It is a little-known fact that around 1950 "Made in Japan" was synonymous with shoddy low-quality low-durability goods; The Japanese fixed that problem, as everyone knows.

Nowadays goods produced in Mainland China are very variable - some are of high quality, but many are not. China is now flooding Africa not only with consumer goods but also with industrial goods and durable consumer items. The problem arises when governments and wholesalers engineer a situation where only Chinese goods are available, for political and/or financial reasons.

Typically a Chinese soldering iron in Zimbabwe is sold with the caveat "it will break very soon and there will be no replacement or refund"; a Chinese bicycle in Zimbabwe develops all kinds of mechanical problems after a few months of modest use.

This situation is taking hard-earned foreign currency out of the hands of poor Africans in poor African countries and giving it to rich Chinese and their African and other collaborators, political and commercial. Trade in many Chinese goods is taking Africa backwards (but it is making lots of money for the few).

What is required is for an independent study of the situation, and with appropriate measures taken after the results of that study, by the Chinese Government and by African Governments. But as long as the few are feeding at the trough, there is little chance of such a sensible solution, and of course the ineffectual and corrupt UN is of little use.

John Githongo's recent revelations about corruption in Kenya are timely and welcome. What most people do not realize is that in most 3rd world countries corruption is top-down-bottom-up i.e. it originates from the president, and over 95% of acts of corruption (by value) result in a large (typically 80%) share of the proceeds going back up the ladder directly to the president. The 20% share stays with the perpetrator of the corruption; and the 80% guarantees that the perpetrator enjoys protection at the highest level. The illegal income of the average 3rd world president is usually composed of many many such scams, some very large and others comparatively small. I state the above based on personal experience while working on World Bank and EU Projects in Uganda and Tunisia in 2005.

As Githongo estimates, 7% of the GNP of Kenya disappears in corruption; this is probably a typical value throughout the 3rd world. The result of this is that the functions of government, ministries, police, armed forces etc are totally diverted from their stated purpose into the business of ensuring the required cash flow for the top man. No wonder that most 3rd world governments are ineffective in building their economies, but are remarkably effective in appearing to destroy these self-same economies; no wonder that so many important government functions end up being implemented by aid donors and NGOs. Indeed, because of a multiplier effect, 7% of GNP disappearing in corruption is probably equivalent to a 21 - 28% of GNP loss to the economy.

While we in the West are congratulating ourselves, we should consider the role of our oil companies (especially Shell), our mining companies, and of course the international diamond monopoly, de Beers. These people instigate and collaborate with corruption in order to make 3rd world presidents rich and their people poor; their top management of course benefit, and in some cases their shareholders.

The solution to these problems? First of all, an exposure of this reality and an end to denial and cover-ups by western politicians, western leaders and western media. The populations and voters of western democracies must not turn their backs on their less fortunate fellow humans just because they themselves have money in their pockets. The truth will eventually set free the victims of this anything-but-victimless crime.

In addition to prosecuting third world leaders with blood on their hands, the ICC and other similar courts must also prosecute western political leaders, corporate leaders, and civil servants whose decisions and actions have directly and/or indirectly resulted in atrocities (Pambazuka News 144: Africa and the ICC: Is Africa ready and waiting?).
Alex Weir, Zimbabwe

Please also consider the immunity from prosecution of Margaret Thatcher and other UK and USA leaders from their actions in installing illegally Idi Amin, Robert Mugabe and other persons who have had wreaked untold physical, political, economic and social havoc on various third world countries; you could also include various UK FCO and USA state department officials and ex-officials. (Pambazuka 144: Confronting impunity through the ICC: Is Africa ready and waiting?)