The new AU building was commissioned on the 28th of January in Adis Ababa Ethiopia. It was conceptualized, designed, built, funded, in fact donated by the CHINESE at a cost of about $200m ( according to the BBC) . Why if I may ask??? Why should a continent of 56 countries allow one alien country, China, donate a building that symbolizes the strength and diversity of Africa. Don’t get me wrong, there is nothing wrong in donating a building and this actually isn’t the first time. The land the UN building is on was donated by The famous Rockefeller Family. But then, its the Chinese and one needs to be skeptical about their purpose. In fact the Rockefeller family donated land only. The Chinese built it with their own company and labour. Why no just give us the money to build ourselves. Or could this be a Greek gift??
The Chinese have hidden no fact of their desire to sip the vast and mostly untapped natural resources abound in Africa. They have for years aligned strategically with rogue government of the continent whilst they gain direct access to their natural resources, mostly oil. What can now be their motive this time around? Is it to compensate African leaders who have for years opened their shores to cheap, low quality, products from the Mandarin speaking country? Or for continued and unhindered access to the vastly untapped continent especially as Europe and the rest of the west is still reeling from the Global Economic Crisis.
To me this is a matter of pride as I believe the content has what it takes to build its own building. China may have donated a 21st Century Edifice to Africa but make no mistake about it can never be for free. For now, we can only wonder what the motive is for them and perhaps for our “grateful” Leaders.
