The difference between the state visits to Africa by the Chinese President Hu Jintao and the Canadian Governor General could not be more stark. Hu Jinto arrived this week (early February 2007) in Namibia, a sparsely populated, mineral-rich desert country which has a population of only about two million people, and is rich in diamonds and minerals such as uranium, zinc and cobalt. Hu arrived from Zambia, where he inaugurated an economic co-operation zone designed to draw US$800 million in mining investment and create 60,000 jobs in the Copperbelt province. Hu is clearly seeking minerals and some mines will benefit. 

Her Excellency the Right Honorable Michelle Jean, the Governor General of Canada visited Ghana last November.  This is what she said about economic opportunities:

I firmly believe that the economic partnership between Canada and Ghana must be part of and practiced within an ethical framework respectful of the people, respectful of their needs and aspirations, and respectful of the ecological integrity of the land where we draw our resources.

Sounds good, although I am not sure what is means—too many code words for me to penetrate. Certainly nothing a reasonable miner could use to expand national interests or develop a mine for that matter.  What a wasted opportunity—her main activity in Ghana was noble, but not economically productive.  She traveled  to Elmina Castle, “where so many Africans waited to be deported to the Americas as slaves. As a descendant of slaves, that touched me very much. I know that we cannot go back and solve past injustices. All we can do is learn from the lessons of the past—even the painful lessons—and use that knowledge to build a better future.” The issue is, do we build a better future via trips down ancestral memory lanes, or by seeking new economic opportunities to benefit those alive now?

The Economist captures the current Scramble for Africa in a report that includes these observations:

China has become a big trading partner for Africa, and Vladimir Putin, Russia’s president, made his first visit to South Africa last year. South Africa is building closer links with Brazil and India, and has defended Iran over its nuclear ambitions. Less than a month after taking up its seat (for two years) at the UN Security Council, South Africa created a stir with its very first vote. It was the only country to side with China and Russia in opposing a resolution calling on Myanmar’s military rulers to improve their appalling human-rights record.

Seems Canadian and United States mining companies will simply have to resort to the tenets of free enterprise, the stock market, and individual enterpreneurship to develop mines in Africa. Clearly there will be no help from national politicians—and maybe that is a good thing.