What are Chinese troops doing on Zimbabwe's streets?

Armed and uniformed Chinese force reported to be on patrol

Mystery surrounds alleged sightings of a troop of 20 armed Chinese soldiers, said to be patrolling the streets of Mutare, the eastern border town, shoulder-to-shoulder with Zimbabwean security forces this week.

The Chinese, witnesses say, patrol in full uniform, and carry pistols, and their sudden appearance has terrified some local residents. The unit formed part of a heavy security deployment in the city centre, used to crush the MDC's nationwide strike designed to force the release of the election results.

The Chinese Embassy in Harare has denied any knowledge of Chinese troops in the area, and has suggested that they might be a privately-hired force, there to protect the interests of local Chinese-owned companies.

The Chinese unit is believed to be accommodated in the Holiday Inn in the centre of Mutare. Their behaviour in the hotel has caused comment amongst the hotel employees.

One told me: "It was a great shock when they checked in, wearing full military regalia and carrying pistols openly. They don't allow us access to their rooms for cleaning purposes, and they do not eat here, although they have paid for full accommodation including meals."

The unit is said to move out on patrol, then return to the hotel every two hours. They are booked in at the hotel for one week, ending this weekend.

Further evidence of Chinese involvement in Zimbabwe came with the confirmation that a Chinese freighter loaded with arms destined for Harare has been cleared to dock in Durban, South Africa.

The ship is the An Yue Jiang, and South African police are said to have confirmed that the cargo is armaments and weapons. It is thought that the Zimbabwe government ordered the consignment to bolster its depleted arsenal, amid fears of anti-government riots in the aftermath of the elections.

Meanwhile the leader of the MDC, Morgan Tsvangirai, who is said to have survived two recent attempts on his life, has taken steps to secure the safety of his family, his staff and himself by moving to a new base in neighbouring Botswana. He met the new president of Botswana, Ian Khama, last week.

Today he was expected to fly in to Harare, by private jet, for a press conference. He has been meeting with other heads of state this week, and also with the leader of the minority MDC faction, Arthur Mutambara. The two met in Johannesburg to discuss ways of working together in a new parliament.

ASH Smyth: When Chinese whispers are unnerving

Comments

[RMacleod]

The new colonial masters ?

[Kristin]

Geez, and we thought the current colonial master is bad! Don't the Chinese have enough things to worry about right now? What, did they sit around wondering "hmmmmm, who's abusing human rights worse than we are? Mugabe? Perfect, let's go give him a hand..."

[macpayne]

Oh dear people. The question here isn't about color, or who did what to whom years ago. If those are your concerns, go back to the playground. A thug is a thug no matter what color, venue, or nationality, and if you can't see that point, your mind is so narrow your ears are touching.

The Zimbabweans who are trying to access their democratic rights are having to stand alone in a mean and dangerous situation, and someone wants to justify the circumstance based on the color of skin...? Shame on you.

Right is right and wrong is wrong no matter what color, and someone needs to stand up and explain these things to the spineless. I wonder how the SADC leaders can justify their weak-kneed, valueless responses, and still think of themselves as decent human beings. But, if the EU or USA or Can were to even blink as though they were considering intervention, the SADC would squeal like pigs. That's a fact.

Another point to consider, and I believe its been addressed previously, but when a criminal is in power, whether mafia boss or corrupt politician, he and those who partake of his crimes know they must ALWAYS be in control... they can NOT afford to relinquish power, because then they can be made to face the consequences of their years of atrocities. When ya grab a tiger by the tail and start twisting, there's no way you can ever let go... when you do, you die.

And, that is a part of what will be so unfair when that day does come. Those at the top, those who profited so much, may have to pay for their evil deeds, but from the mid-level on down, they get off virtually scott-free. I'm talking about those mob leaders who kick and stomp their fellow man, the soldiers and policemen who demand bribes and crack heads with their rifle butts, and the ones who lie and turn their back and pretend not to see. They can all claim to have been "only following orders", and someone will pat them on the head and tell them to be on their way because no one has proof otherwise. I can only hope someone is recording these deeds, with names and dates and witnesses and pictures. Yes, they will face judgment for eternity, but those who are being so awfully violated should have their legal revenge, also.

Pray for justice.

[Bum Boy]

Mugabe is just a barrel of laughs. The previous Colonial masters have nothing on the chows in terms of aggression, lack of human rights and local development. Many blacks are now realising that their own leaders and the chinese are far worse than the British. At least the Brits and European are civilised but the Chinese? The Chinese and Africans are both uncivilised so they might be perfect bed buddies.

[Ron Walker]

If shown a picture of a dozen North Koreans in full dress uniforms and another of a dozen Chinese, I'd be hard-pressed to tell you which one was which - their military hardware is also nearly identical. ZANU PF has a wel-documented history of dealings with Korea (which trained the notorious "5th Brigade")
http://www.nkeconwatch.com/category/countries/zimbabwe/
…in October of 1980, an agreement was signed between Prime Minister Mugabe and President Kim Il Sung, in which North Korea offered to train and arm a brigade for the newly independent Zimbabwe.

The First News of this agreement in the Zimbabwe media was almost a year later, in August 1981, when 106 Korean instructors arrived to begin training the brigade. Prime Minister Mugabe then announced that the Korean-trained brigade was to be known as the 5 Brigade.”

This squad was colloquially named ‘Gukurahundi’ which is Shona for “the rain that washes away the chaff before the spring rains,” and it was separate from the normal Zimbabwe National Army.

The 5 Brigade soldiers made it clear themselves that they should be regarded as above the law.[…] answerable to nobody but Mugabe.

[Kenny]

It's all about the minerals, mate

[AmerKKKAN]

SO WHAT!!!!!!!!!!! We have 750 MILITARY bases AROUND the WORLD and thats not including EMBASSIES which they are NOTHING but a TERRORIST TRAINING CAMPS!

[Rick Cain]

The USA has 150,000 troops and 30,000 paid mercenaries from places like South Africa and Israel in Iraq and we are freaking out over 20 chinese troops in Zimbabwe.

[Rick Cain]

The USA has 150,000 troops and 30,000 paid mercenaries from places like South Africa and Israel in Iraq and we are freaking out over 20 chinese troops in Zimbabwe.

[Mike Abel]

Clearly some people haven't wiped the sleep out of their eyes yet. The USA is fighting a war in Iraq. Chinese troops on the streets of Mutare in Zimbabwe? Just as a Chinese shipment of 77-tonnes of weapons arrive from Guangzhou? You do the math. China is climbing into Africa. At least the USA does not invite foreign armies in to help crush their own people's democratic rights!

[Nancy Lazarus]

The Chinese Ship full of weapons!
So where is the war zone dear Robert? Who do you want to fight? You want to kill your own people,your own flesh and blood ust to keep up appearances? Shame on you!
Were the weapons a free gift? Even if they were, couldn't you think of a useful gift Chinacould give you? Imagine how many of your people would smile if that ship was full of rice even for one meal, flour for bread,industrial machinery to create employment, petrol Robert, sugar and salt,soap and toothpaste, to name but a few essential things Zimbabweans need daily. Shame on you Grace! You must have urged your husband on. "Get weapons, Robert! Kill everyone except me and my children! These poor people are making too much noise for us!You can spare Chinamasa and perhaps Didymus! Shame on you Grace! You have never possesed qualities of a first lady right from the outset! Hats off to the South African dockers who refused to offload ZANU PF's lethal cargo! Thanks brothers you saved a bloodshed of innocent people. Shame on you Mugabe and your politburo. You would rather be colonised by China? But China is just as poor as Zimbabwe. What does Zimbabwe gain from the Chinese?

[Steve Goodwin]

Crack Chinese troops were seen on the streets of the UK a week or so ago allegedly guarding the "Olympic torch". They were even seen stationed in Downing Street for a short period and were photographed with the Prime Minister Gordon Brown. Talk about a coup!! Today London and Zimbabwe, tomorrow the world eh!

[Jonah Simbu]

Mugabe is a small effete little man. He minces around like a ghey. Is that why he hates them so much? Is he in denial??

[Zimbo]

nonsense how many USA bases are scattered all over the world, what are they (Americans) doing in Botswana, what gives them the right to be the world police.

[Michael]

Somehow I think you've missed the point ..... This isn't about US troops in Botswana, British troops in Iraq or Congolese troops on Mars ...... the matter at hand for this discussion is the Chinese troops in Zimbabwe at a time when it could be seen as (and more than likely was) intimidation and election rigging by ZANU PF

[Agile Eye]

Its possible they might have something to do with a sophisticated air defense radar unit said to have been sited somewhere in this region. This long range radar system was bought from China turn of the century. Why they might otherwise be apparently armed and on patrol is a msytery.