TITLE:
The Entanglement of Zimbabwe in the US-China Geoeconomic Frictions: Defining Winners and Losers
AUTHORS:
Gorden Moyo, Mbongeni Nhliziyo, Rodrick Fayayo
KEYWORDS:
China, Geoeconomics, Sanctions, U.S, Zimbabwe
JOURNAL NAME:
iBusiness,
Vol.12 No.3,
September
2,
2020
ABSTRACT: This article discusses the
undercurrents of US-China geoeconomic competition in Zimbabwe. It argues that
while the rivalry between the United States and China has been visible at
global level as demonstrated by the high profile tariff wars, South China Sea squabbles, and more recently, for the
handling of the origins of the coronavirus aka Covid-19 pandemic, the
US-China geoeconomic frictions have largely been of low intensity but high
impact on Zimbabwe. The episodes of turfing between Beijing and Washington in
that country are traceable to the 2000s when the United States and the other
Western countries imposed targeted measures and sanctions on Harare following
disagreements on land reform, human rights, rule of law, and electoral
malpractices. The imposition of restrictive measures on Zimbabwe was
accompanied by the withdrawal of the Euro-American investments, trade, finance,
and development aid. In response, the Zimbabwe government invited China to
invest in the lucrative sectors of the economy. This signalled the birth of the
US-China geoeconomic competition in Zimbabwe. Since then, Beijing has
consolidated its geostrategic interests in the country while the United States
and the other Western countries have largely remained on the economic sidelines
for the past two decades in Zimbabwe. This article therefore sets out to
surface the US-China geopolitical and geoeconomic undercurrents thereby
identifying the winners and losers as well as opportunities for the ailing
economy of Zimbabwe.