By Liam Robertson 
Photo Credit: Greg Baker/AFP via Getty Images
China’s one-party governance, led by the Communist Party since 1949, has significantly influenced its domestic and international trajectory. Under Mao Zedong’s leadership, China implemented Marxist reforms such as agricultural collectivization and anti-rightist campaigns. However, some initiatives, like the Great Leap Forward in 1958, led to economic hardships and widespread famine, highlighting the challenges of large-scale socio-economic transformation.
Following Mao’s death in 1976, China transitioned from an agriculturally focused economy to an industrial powerhouse, gradually emerging as a key player on the global stage. Post-Mao leaders emphasized economic growth and reduced reliance on military expansion, fostering trade relationships with Western nations. The divergence from the Soviet Union in the late 20th century further encouraged China to explore market-oriented reforms, blending capitalist practices with its communist framework.
Since Xi Jinping’s rise to leadership in 2013, China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has become a cornerstone of its foreign policy. Dubbed a modern “Silk Road,” this initiative connects China to Southeast Asia, Africa, and Eastern Europe through infrastructure projects. In recent years, the BRI has expanded to regions like Oceania, Central America, and Southern Africa, leveraging the latter’s resource wealth and historical grievances against Western colonial powers to establish economic partnerships.
Southern Africa’s economic prominence, led by South Africa, underscores its importance to Chinese investment. Both nations are members of BRICS—a coalition that also includes Brazil, Russia, and India—that fosters economic and trade cooperation. Observers like Gabrielle Sierra of the Council on Foreign Relations note South Africa’s vulnerability to foreign influence, citing its weaker democratic institutions. Chinese investments in South Africa’s mining sector and natural resources have raised concerns about economic imbalances, with raw materials often exported directly to China rather than benefiting local communities.
China’s engagement with Africa dates back to its support for Mozambique and Angola during their independence movements in the 1970s. These alliances laid the foundation for later economic partnerships, including infrastructure development. However, critics argue that prioritizing trade and industrial investments has sometimes neglected essential sectors like agriculture, exacerbating challenges such as food insecurity. In Angola and Mozambique, tensions over Chinese dominance in trade have led to calls for greater local autonomy, demonstrating the complexities of these partnerships.
President Cyril Ramaphosa co-chairs Forum on China-Africa Cooperation. 4 Sept. 2018. (Photo: GCIS)
Namibia offers a more recent example of China’s strategic involvement. Following the death of President Hage Geingob in 2024, pro-China candidate Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah emerged as a likely successor. Her support for Chinese-led infrastructure projects, such as highways and port developments, has bolstered Namibia’s economy while advancing China’s geopolitical interests. Notably, access to Namibia’s Walvis Bay port enhances China’s reach into the Atlantic and global markets.
China’s investments in Southern Africa reflect its broader goal of securing natural resources and expanding its international influence. While these partnerships can spur economic development, they also raise concerns about dependency and potential coercion. As Southern African nations navigate these dynamics, maintaining a balance between leveraging foreign investment and preserving sovereignty will be crucial.