So....... for you ZANU-PF apologists who think China is Zimbabwe's "fast friend" who will give them money "without strings" unlike the imperialist "West"......

What sort of friends are the Chinese now? I said it before, you may hate the "West", but your far more likely to be treated fairly by the "West" than you will by the Chinese - they play hardball..... NOTHING is free..... friends or not ..... and now you see the actual results of dealing with them.

Makes you wonder how much else of Zimbabwe ZANU-PF have given away to China and at what price, to keep themselves in power. What hollow garbage ZANU's and Bob's claim of "defending the liberation" are when you look at what they're selling out to the Chinese.

"Look East!" to where Zimbabwe's riches will be further drained out of ZANU-PF's desperation to remain in power!

"Total Empowerment!"

So china lends Zim 5 billion and China gets 40 billion worth of platinum for nothing with that 5 billion still having to be repayed so china has 45 billion in the end plus interest. Bad deal if i've ever seen one. If zim can get 40 billion worth of platinum ( 50%) out of the ground so why do we need this 5 billion from china. Instead of being a western economic colony we will be an eastern economic colony. The western banks have forgiven many billion debts in africa and do you think the chinks or japs going to be so forgiving, noway in hell. Let Zim work its way out of the ground under a decent government who won't steal from the people and tell the eastern thieves to go hell or go and hang.

No doubt Comrades Ndebvu, Mabhiza, Akapfunde et al will dismiss this story as racist propaganda; however, since this is a bank deal (as confirmed by the Chinese government) and is on strictly commercial terms, the story makes sense.

The questions are- (a) Are the 30 million ounces of platinum real? and (b) who carries the financial risk?

If 30 million ounces are merely an exploration target, which has to be proved through drilling, and then developed into a mine, at the entire risk of the Chinese bank putting up the $950 m / $5 billion; then maybe its ok.

On the other hand, if the 30 million ounces have been proved to exist and/or the credit line is drawn at the entire risk of the Zimbabwean taxpayer (which appears to be the case) then this is the biggest rort since the Rudd Concession and Zimbabwe should reject it out of hand.

China is right! God-ordained criminal Mugabe is right! Both are right indeed.

AK47, Mahbiza, Richerson88 & others continue to praise bloodstained Mugabe for his patriotism, nationalism and his empowerment policy.

Mugabe has destroyed the country over his 29 years of misrule, but his thugs and bootlickers however continue to consider him as a great statesman.

Tyrant Mugabe is right. he needs the money to celebrate his birthday parties, buy luxurious apartments to his children and bribe the judiciary and the army so he can stay in power.

Mugabe is right to sell the country to the Chinese, because his thugs want him to continue to protect them from being accountable for their crimes against ordinary Zimbos.

There is no price to Mugabe's safety. he is right. His people love him that way.

Where are the apologists for Bloodstained Bob and his ZANU-PF henchmen? Why won't they defend this latest travesty as a "victory" for the "enlightened" guidance of their "Dear Leader's" "Look East" policy?

What? Does somehow "Look East" look less promising than it once did? Are the Chinese suddenly less "good friends" now that they insist on obtaining Zimbabwe's future mineral resources for their current "aid"? What about the position that China is a better "friend" to Zimbabwe than the "West", "because they DO NOT ATTACH STRINGS TO THEIR AID"? What do you think Tak?

The silence is deafening, they attempt to defend the indefensible, yet fall silent when their own leader sells out his own nation for a "bag of silver" to maintain his position of power because everyone else in the world know not to give a farthing to a thief!

This latest episode is the tip of the iceberg. To those that truly think that China is Zimbabwe's friend, then look again at the deal that is on the table. Is Zimbabwe really getting a good deal? How much is the platinum concession worth? How is it "linked" to the "aid" the Chinese are willing to provide Zimbabwe with? Is it "aid" or is it a bribe to ZANU-PF for them to open the door to Chinese (instead of "Western") exploitation?

Does Zimbabwe want to be a colony of the East in order to avoid becoming a colony of the "West"?

Or maybe they do not care how badly Zimbabwe does in this proposed deal as long as China extends them credit to continue to buy Kalishnikovs and condos in Hong Kong?

"Look East!" to where Zimbabwe's future riches are soon to be relocated!

But it IS strange, that none of the usual suspects (AK47, Tak, J-hollow, Mabhiza, et al) are not on this thread to defend what appears on the surface to be trading one master for another...........

"Total Empowerment!" As long as ZANU-PF is not selling out Zimbabwe's future to China in a headstrong effort to appear NOT to be kowtowing to the horrible, imperialist, "West"!

"Look East!"

"All Quiet on the Eastern Front" - how predictable!

Once again Katz, the facts and the tides of history are against our sycophantic ZANU-PF comrades on this board. You won't find them here.......... facts are NOT their forte................. a good example of this is the Herald............

The FACTS show that dealing with the "East" is at least as fraught with peril for Zimbabwe as dealing with the "West".

The people of Zimbabwe need to obtain what the promise of Zimbabwe once was. There is no requirement that Zimbabwe look "East" OR look "West", but to protect their long-term interests - like feeding the country, providing clean water, open hospitals and open schools. I only hope that Zimbabwe doesn't sell out it's future for the sake of one particular political party's desire to retain power.

But again, "We" (in the real world) don't expect our adversaries here to respond with facts, only invective and slight-of-hand tricks to make sure no one "pays attention to the MAN behind the curtain"......

I judge ZANU-PF/Mugabe by what they have promised and failed to deliver - not why they have failed to deliver on their promises. If a party was serious about what they promised the people, they would deliver, ZANU-PF/Mugabe has NOT! If Zimbabwe was not such a black hole on the face of the earth I probably would never have cared about it - but Zimbabwe has the great promise of it's past and the potential for so much greater things for ALL of it's people - which is what makes the past 18 months all the more sickening for many of us.

"Total Empowerment!" - ZANU-PF "PROMISED" "Total Empowerment!" last year, remember? They promised it, have they delivered it to the people of Zimbabwe? Is Zimbabwe NOW "Totally Empowered!"?

The silence is deafening..................

Juhlman - the tragedy of Zimbabwe is all the more heartbreaking because the people (black, white, asian, mixed race - everyone) deserve better after decades of criminally inept and cruel leadership.Going right back to the racist and myopic leadership of the Rhodesian Front whose stupidity and vanity lead the country into a war that cost at least 40,000 lives; only to be followed by the tyranny of Mugabe whose own greed and vanity has cost the country at least as many again. Surely, it is time that the people had better leaders.

This tragedy is compounded by the fact that Africa as whole MUST URGENTLY change the ways of the past, if it is not to become totally irrelevant. Mugabe represents the past and not the future; but as long as he is still in power, his populist appeal will divert Africa from what it must do. The damage that this tyrant is doing will be paid for by generations of Africans whose leaders will fail them, time and time again, in the cause of personal enrichment. One can only hope and pray that President Obama's message over the week-end gets through to enough people of vision and influence.

Zimbabwe will never be a colony again heheheheheheheheheheeeeeeeee

This post was deleted because it contravenes AllAfrica's commenting guidelines.

This post was deleted because it contravenes AllAfrica's commenting guidelines.

"Uplift"

Please STOP with your "cut-&-Paste", it's tiresome, boring and WRONG! I have already pointed out the fallacy of your suggestions that "black" people invented the things you claim they have - it's mostly fabrications and exagerations - you have NO standing here as long as you continue to post your falsehoods.

Even if Richerson88 is amusing, you are NOT! He at least posts something relevant to the discussion and doesn't make up the sh*te that you do, you continue to post the same discredited lies - STOP!

As I've said, a village somewhere has lost it's idiot, I'll tell them they can find you here!

"Total Empowerment!"

Oh, I forgot, no one cares about your stupid poetry! Take it to the "literature boards", if you have something to say, say it, don't muck it up if doggerel poetry and lies about how "black" people invented things that can be fact-checked on the internet to actually be invented by "white" people!

As IF someone "invented" the KITCHEN TABLE! You are such an idiot, stop posting, you're taking up valuable space on ALLAFRICA's servers......

"Total Empowerment!"

"Uplift":

Have you noticed that your "cut-&-paste" has begun being deleted from the boards?

Apparently they read my prior post about the falsification of facts in your posts and that's exactly why I posted the wikipedia page for all of your false claims. You can't accuse me of lying, because the "facts" you post are false on their face!

Just step up to the plate and take a swing without relying on a false history of which race invented this or that (especially when the examples you use are WRONG!).

Either do us all a favor and go away, or write something original, I'm sure it'll be the first time.................

None of the other idiots here do it, what should you?

Oh! it sound,s like all along, the EUROPEAN and American racists have been given free aid to African countries,have they really?All you racist propagandists should go hang for you know fully well that China was coming in to invest and expect to get something in return.They(China) have always stated that they are in it for a 50/50 sake,propably, it,s only idiots like you who,ve grown used to stealing from others that thought that China will come and give money free without seeking investments,we never saw it so, so grow up. EUROPE and America has stolen for hundreds of years in Africa with nothing to show for it,we are ready to welcome china for a change,our horrible experience with the imperialist rogues will put us in a better stead to handle others, China included.This to us is good news,if you,re not comfortable, please go hang.

"it,s only idiots like you who,ve grown used to stealing from others that thought that China will come and give money free" - does that even make sense?

Katz, who are the thieving lot here? The west have always been the ones causing war to steal,you make no sense whatsoever,you,re a hypocrite and will remain one ,you inherited it.

Rafil - I'm more than happy to debate the issues with you, but all that we ask is that you use facts and rational argument to support your position.

Your assertion that 'you lot stole from us for generations' ergo only your lot thought that the Chinese would give their money for free is utterly stupid. You have got an education - use it!

Rafil, why don't you just own up to the fact that you thought you guys would have a free for all fest on those Chinese lines of credit. It is obvious you have had a rude awakening to the fact that no one will give you anything for nothing any more, not even the Chinese. A good wake up call. WAKE UP!