Only a few days after the United Nations issued its “damning” report about the genocide in Zimbabwe, Mugabe figured it might be a good idea continue demolishing homes. Shows how much he takes the dreaded UN seriously, huh? The United States and Britain, however, have been stepping up the pressure on South Africa to do something about the problem; namely, to force Zimbabwe to undergo reform as a condition to any financial aid. But why would Mbeki do that when he is ideologically sympathetic, and why would Mugabe accept such an offer when China is dishing out bargain basement prices? Any other leader would try to deal directly with the international community. Mugabe? He takes a week off to learn Mandarin!

BEIJING, July 27 (Xinhuanet) — Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said here Wednesday that Zimbabwe is a key partner of China in Africa and China will continue to improve its friendly cooperation with it.

In a meeting with Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe, Wen said China values its relations with Zimbabwe and believes that mutual-beneficial cooperation and respect to each other’s choice of developing mode are the foundation to further develop China-Zimbabwe ties.

“To upgrade bilateral economic and trade ties is the common demand of our two countries,” Wen said.

He said China wants to improve cooperation with Zimbabwe in mining exploitation, telecom network building and reconstruction of rural power grid.

He expressed the hope that Zimbabwe will offer convenience to those Chinese companies running businesses there.

On the relations between China and Africa, Wen said: “China is the largest developing nation in the world and Africa is the continent which has the largest number of developing countries. China and Africa share many common interests.”

By “common interests,” of course, Wen means that Africa has vast exploitable resources to fuel its growth, and Africa has many dictators that need propping up. That’s what I call a sweet deal! We’re talking potentially billions of dollars worth of shiny lucre supplied directly to the Zim government in exchange for countless contracts for Chinese resource rapists, er, businessmen.

Meanwhile, the United States and Britain have raised the issue at the UN Security Council, hoping that it will finally address the crisis. But wait! An entrenched communist government with billions in business interests voices opposition to stopping genocide! Who’da thunk?

The United States and Britain are pushing the U.N. Security Council to publicly take up the issue of Zimbabwe’s demolition of urban slums. The push is encountering stiff resistance from several other Council members.

Britain’s U.N. Ambassador Emyr Jones-Parry asked the Security Council to hear a briefing from Anna Tibaijuka, the special envoy who last week issued a damning report on Zimbabwe’s slum demolition campaign.

The report suggests that the demolitions might constitute a crime against humanity, and says those responsible should be prosecuted.

The British envoy’s request during a closed-door Council meeting Tuesday sparked strong objection. China, Russia and Algeria voiced opposition to the briefing, and several other members stated separate concerns, leaving it unclear how the issue would be resolved.

The briefing would be a breakthrough for the United States and Britain, which have long tried unsuccessfully to place Zimbabwe on the permanent Council agenda. China has remained steadfastly against — pointing to the Security Council’s traditional non-interference in any country’s internal affairs.

When asked to explain the Council’s reluctance to take up the Zimbabwe issue Tuesday, an unusually outspoken U.S. Ambassador Anne Patterson suggested it might be time to reform the agenda.

“That’s a good question. Because this is an issue that is totally appropriate for the Security Council, and if I might stray a bit, it suggests there is room for reform in the U.N.’s consideration of these issues. What is clear from this report is the humanitarian crisis, the appropriateness of Security Council review, and frankly the massive violations of human rights that have been undertaken by the government,” she said.

What’s worse is that this is a trend across the entire continent; as the West is finally beginning to confront rampant tyranny, China is all the more willing to help out friends in need. Business is good with these countries; in fact, China’s share of Africa’s market is rising about 1% a year. So why aren’t people feeling the poverty-relieving effects of trade with China? Because it isn’t about the people. It’s about plundering resources and, in exchange, fueling the stability of long standing dictatorships. The people never see the benefits that they should be harvesting. Instead, their countries are slowly becoming colonies, with China ready and willing to use its unearned status at the United Nations to defend despotism.