China supports dictators, say Amin and Bokassa’s creators

When China last week announced at the Africa-China summit in Egypt that it will give African countries a total of $10 billion in new loans, it was easy to predict the irritating analyses by Western commentators.

China’s full-throttle rush into Africa, they said, will promote corruption and bad governance, and its willingness to deal with “brutal and corrupt governments” will subvert democracy.

But wait a minute.

Surely it’s not China that propped up the likes of Uganda’s Idi Amin, Zaire’s Mobutu Sese Seko and Central African Republic’s Jean Bedel Bokassa?

If anything, aren’t China and India best remembered for supporting Africa’s liberation, even as the West campaigned for “constructive engagement” with such odious entities as apartheid South Africa and Rhodesia?

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Regard mighty Kazini, laid low by a metal pipe

Life is full of such ironic twists of fate that one is left wondering whether a sinister puppet master somewhere enjoys toying with the fate of human beings.

Take Maj-Gen James Kazini, Uganda’s former army commander who was murdered last week.

In life, he had led into battle thousands of armed men, armoured cars and helicopter gunships, earning all sorts of honours from his country.

But all it took to lay him low was an enraged 28-year old lover, Lydia Draru, armed with a hollow metal pipe.

The police say Ms Draru accomplished what Kony & Co could not after a quarrel at her house.

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A driving ambition is not easily thwarted

Cha Sa-soon, a 68-year old South Korean, is not easily defeated.