Watch When China Met Africa

When China Met Africa is a documentary film that chronicles the increasing presence of China in Africa, particularly in Zambia. The movie, directed by Marc Francis and Nick Francis, explores the impact of Chinese investments in Africa in terms of economics, politics, and culture. The filmmakers follow three African individuals whose lives have been affected by the Chinese investments: Mr. Liu, a Chinese entrepreneur engaged in a construction business in Zambia; David, a Zambian politician who is supportive of the Chinese investments; and Zambia's Minister of Commerce, Felix Mutati.

The movie starts with a brief history of Zambia, where the filmmakers note that the country has endured several years of economic turmoil. This has led to African nations seeking investment from other nations, with China filling that role in recent years. With the aid of China's development policies, African nations have been able to initiate large-scale construction projects across the continent.

One such project is the construction of a new football stadium in Lusaka, Zambia's capital, which is being funded by Chinese investments. The movie shows the construction of the stadium in intricate detail, chronicling the partnerships, negotiations, and building procedures of the Chinese contractors.

As the documentary progresses, we get to hear the voices of the African people who have been impacted by China's presence in Africa. They share their views about Chinese investments in Africa, including their positive and negative experiences. The film primarily focuses on Zambia and the perspective of its citizens, but it also touches on broader topics like globalization and colonialism.

In the movie, we see Mr. Liu explain that he is building infrastructure and offering employment opportunities to the local people, which is helping the Zambian economy. However, some locals are unhappy with the Chinese presence, feeling that they are being exploited by Chinese companies. They cite poor working conditions, low wages, and lack of job security as major problems.

The documentary also captures a protest by local workers over their working conditions, who claim that they are being exploited by Chinese companies. The Chinese entrepreneur Mr. Liu is filmed trying to handle the protests and negotiate a solution with the workers while complying with Chinese regulations.

As the movie unfolds, it becomes evident that there is a lack of transparency and accountability in many of the dealings between the Chinese investors and the African governments. We learn that China funds many projects with few questions asked, which allows for more significant or more significant issues to go unnoticed.

Furthermore, the film touches on the threat of neo-colonialism, where China's current involvement in Africa can be viewed as a new form of colonization. This is because China has a considerable influence on the political and economic affairs of African nations, and it is not clear how much control the African nations have over their own futures.

When China met Africa is a thought-provoking documentary that raises important questions about the relationship between China and Africa. The film highlights the need for transparency and accountability in these dealings and emphasizes the importance of sustainable development practices that prioritize the needs of African citizens.

Overall, When China Met Africa portrays a complex picture of Africa's relationship with China, one that is both positive and negative but problematic in many areas. It offers an important perspective on the increasingly significant role that China plays in Africa's development and raises important issues that policymakers, business leaders, and ordinary citizens should be considering.