If our friends in China did it…

Correspondent
At their 3 September 2024 meeting in Beijing, President Emmerson Mnangagwa told China’s President Xi Jinping that Zimbabwe was willing to strengthen bilateral exchanges within the fields of state and party governance.
Zimbabwe’s Head of State and Government, who was on a State Visit ahead of his participation in the 9th Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), also spoke about the need to deepen bilateral ties for infrastructure, agriculture, mining and new energy development.
There is an undeniable nexus between governance/administration and economic development. Some may consider this a bit of chicken-and-egg stuff, i.e. does good governance result in economic development, or does economic development encourage better governance?
Most analysts, though, contend that good governance and sound administration lay the foundation for economic growth by creating an environment conducive for sustained and sustainable growth.
It is, thus, no wonder that President Mnangagwa expressed his desire for greater exchanges with China in the fields of state and party governance, considering that the East Asian powerhouse has managed to lift 800 million people out of poverty in recent decades.
Naturally, this cannot be achieved by merely copying and pasting. Each country has its peculiar characteristics, and specific historical and contemporary context within which development planning must be considered.
Which is why during the China State Visit, President Mnangagwa told the China Media Group that, “As we come to China, which has rapidly developed and has modernised its economy, we get insights into how they have travelled that journey; and the challenges which we face, some have been resolved here. So it’s an advantage for us to leapfrog the challenges which have been resolved…
“Here and there, perhaps people may want to emulate what is happening elsewhere, but, at the end of the day, like here, they say we want to build China with Chinese characteristics, which means it shall remain China with its culture and characteristics…
“We need to make sure, as we leapfrog our transformation and modernisation, we do it thoroughly and perfectly … learning from those who have passed the test.”
With that in mind, it would be instructive for Zimbabwe’s policy planners to acquaint to acquaint themselves with the 4th Volume of President Xi’s “The Governance of China”, published in 2023.
The book outlines how China has vigorously and effectively implemented macro-control, while implementing counter-cyclical adjustments in the face of evolving challenges while remaining true to its broader development agenda.
As one reviewer put it, the book integrates the skill, know-how and experience of leadership, governance and economic management required to navigate turbulent times.
“This book, also anticipates to help the African leadership to exchange skills and governance experience with Chinese counterparts.”
For a country like Zimbabwe, the basic lessons to draw from are how a country of over one billion people operates with a streamlined and efficient political bureaucracy.
There are instructive pointers on how the party leads the government; zero tolerance for corruption; State-led capitalism as epitomised in the dynamic role of public-owned enterprises and parastatals; and the creation of an environment that is conducive for the growth of the private sector.
Relatedly, it is interesting to note how China is shaping the rise of a private sector that appreciates how its own interests are intrinsically tied to the national interest.
Zimbabwe would do well to adapt systems that foster innovation in both the public and private sectors, which serves to propel the development of new, efficient products and services.
Overall, human capital is the greatest resource available to any nation.
Investment in education, health and food security sets the base for any other meaningful, long-term national investment.
All the above speak to establishment of sound governance and administration systems that outlive generations.
Wang Fen (“China’s Age of Abundance: Origins, Ascendance, and Aftermath”) says that China’s success was due to a high degree of political stability and coherence in its economic development programme.
To use a popular colloquialism, “If China did it, why can’t we also did it?”