China to erect big screens in Zimbabwe
By Itai Mushekwe
HARARE – China is set to flood Zimbabwean cities, with gigantic news-screens as Beijing ratchets up a new aggressive media campaign, to solidify her foreign policy objectives on the African continent, with a scheme to contain Western broadcasters in a new feverish information war.
Diplomatic officials close to China Ambassador to Zimbabwe Mr Lin Lin, have told Nehanda Radio how Beijing is seriously considering a blockade on critical European media houses, which it accuses of damaging its image in Africa.
Zimbabwe has now become one of China’s key investment destination, following disclosures recently by Mr Lin Lin that Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) from his country to Harare has topped US$ 660 million, in the last two years.
“The campaign will see other African nations namely, Sudan , Angola , Kenya and Ethiopia also taking delivery of the monster screens,” the officials said.
“Western broadcasters, whose sphere of influence is being targeted in this new realm of information competition include America ’s Cable News Network (CNN), The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), France 24 and Germany ’s International broadcaster Deutsche Welle (DW).”
Most of the broadcasters are well received in Zimbabwe via satellite, and the internet. The BBC and DW have a strong radio listenership, through short-wave frequencies, which get jammed and intercepted time and again by government using special equipment supplied by the Chinese.
The equipment consists of three jammers, all installed at the Thornhill military airbase in the Midlands.
Thornhill is also a key government communications centre. China is also reportedly keen on helping Harare to revive, its failed shortwave radio project, the Voice of Zimbabwe (VOZ), whose equipment is derelict in Gweru.
Major cities like Harare, Bulawayo, Gweru will be a test run for the media project’s continental drive, according to our sources. Other smaller Zimbabwean cities that will be installed with the “news-screens”, which measure 4X3 metres in height include Mutare, Kwekwe and Kadoma.
Harare already has one such massive high definition screen, erected in 2010 at the corner of First Street and George Silundika Avenue, granted as a freebie by Xinhua News Agency to the State.
“The controversial screens will offer Chinese news and documentaries bearing the subtitles of the African country in question,” said a media contact from the rising Asian economic powerhouse.
“Hollywood block-busters produced for the Chinese market, will also be syndicated to these news-screens. The desired movies, will be run for free as part of efforts to promote Chinese culture, language and image in Africa.”
A US official also conversant, with China’s plans warned that the country’s leadership must not engage China with “blind eyes”, because it was Beijing benefiting the most from any economic deals.
“Zimbabwean politicians think this whole thing is a game. China is literally taking over everything with an electric smile. People will be brainwashed with communist propaganda, and this suits Zanu PF and Robert Mugabe well since they follow communist doctrines. This is information colonisation, which will potentially become colonisation itself.”
Beijing has also come under fire for causing cyber espionage horrors on the US, an accusation which was refuted last month by her foreign ministry spokesperson, Hua Chunying.
Information minister, Webster Shamu refused to take up questions on the matter. Ironically Shamu at one time, was trained as a radio journalist by DW, and used to make radio announcements for Zanu PF from Mozambique during the liberation struggle.
One such eye-sore news-screen will soon be set up at the Harare International Airport.
So sophisticated is the media rush on Africa, that China is now opening branches of its news agencies wherever it can across the continent, to manage sensetive political and economic news flow. The China Central Television (CCTV), only last year started broadcasting English-language African news from Kenya.
