Did China know of Zimbabwe’s military takeover in advance?

NEWDELHI: A visit to China by the Zimbabwe Army chief days before the military seized control and placed President Robert Mugabe under house arrest has raised eyebrows and led to speculation that Gen Constantino Chiwenga may have sought Beijing’s tacit approval for his move.

China is Zimbabwe’s largest foreign investor and has had a presence in the country since the 1970s, when it secretly supplied ammunition and funds to Mugabe’s guerrilla force during the war of independence.

Chiwenga, seen as an ally of ousted vice president Emmerson Mnangagwa — sacked by Mugabe to strengthen the hands of his wife — held meetings with Li Zuocheng, chief of the Joint Staff Department of the People’s Liberation Army, and defence minister Gen Chang Wanquan.

According to a defence ministry report, Li told Chiwenga: “China and Zimbabwe are allweather friends.” Chiwenga said Zimbabwe was willing to deepen exchanges and cooperation in all fields to promote bilateral state and military relations.

Some experts have contended that Chiwenga may have wanted to ensure that political changes in Zimbabwe would not affect bilateral ties because of China’s longstanding support for Mugabe.

China has pumped billions of dollars into Zimbabwe in exchange for unfettered access to natural resources. In 2015 alone, China pumped in over $450 million in Zimbabwe, more than half of the total foreign investments.

China’s foreign ministry has played down the significance of Chiwenga’s visit, saying it was part of the “normal military-tomilitary” exchanges.