Tag: Chinese military college

Robert Mugabe opens Chinese military college in Zimbabwe

Robert Mugabe

President Robert Mugabe’s ZANU-PF party has strengthened the militarisation of Zimbabwe ahead of next year’s general election with the opening of a National Military College.

Observers pointed out that Mugabe’s latest move sends a strong signal that the military complex will dictate the outcome at the ballot box. The long-serving Zimbabwean president is expected to triumph for the third time over rival Morgan Tsvangirai of the Movement for Democratic Change, after beating him in 2002 and 2008.
Last weekend Mugabe officially opened the college, built by China at a cost of $98 million. It is being described as a “think tank” on security issues. He said it will aslo be used as a bulwark against Western countries, preventing their “regime change” agenda.

The college will exclusively train personnel with a rank of colonel or captain or above, as well as equivalent high ranks in state security, the police and prisons.

In terms of the loan agreement, the loan by China will be paid off over 13 years by means of diamonds to be extracted by Chinese companies from the Marange diamond fields.

Anjin, the Chinese diamond company in Marange, was involved in an argument earlier this year with the Minister of Finance, Tendai Biti, because the Chinese had failed to pay “a single cent” in taxes.

The construction of the college indicates the sustained militarisation of Zimbabwean society, but also the domination of Chinese interests in the country.