The CPC has not only led China to the forefront of global affairs -- it has also lit the way for many across the developing world, says Dereck Goto, a Harare-based political commentator.

by Dereck Goto

This July 1st, the Communist Party of China (CPC) celebrates its 104th anniversary -- a momentous milestone that resonates far beyond China's borders. For Africa, and particularly for Zimbabwe, this occasion is a chance to reflect on a shared journey of resistance, revolution and renewal.

The CPC's evolution from a small revolutionary cell in 1921 to the central force behind the world's second-largest economy is not merely a national story -- it is a global symbol of sovereignty, strategic foresight and enduring ideological clarity.

In the crucible of Africa's liberation struggles during the 1960s and 1970s, China, led by the CPC, stood as a steadfast ally. While many global powers hedged their bets or remained complicit in colonial exploitation, China chose the side of the oppressed. The China-Zimbabwe bond forged during this period was not rhetorical. It was tested and tempered in the trenches of history.

An enduring symbol of China's commitment to African liberation is the Tanzania-Zambia Railway Authority (TAZARA), or "Uhuru Railway," built with Chinese financing and expertise. Completed in 1976, this massive infrastructure project linked landlocked Zambia to Tanzania's port of Dar es Salaam, providing a crucial trade lifeline that circumvented apartheid-era blockades. At the time, it was the largest foreign aid project ever undertaken by China, representing a practical and ideological commitment to Africa's economic and political independence.

As African liberation movements transitioned into political parties and took up the reins of power, many drew heavily from the CPC's institutional model. Zimbabwe's ruling party, Zanu PF, is a case in point. Like the CPC, Zanu PF is governed through a robust internal structure featuring a Politburo, a Central Committee, and periodic People's Conferences. These are not ceremonial organs -- they are living structures designed for ideological reinforcement, strategic direction and leadership continuity. This alignment is deliberate and informed by the CPC's proven success in sustaining revolutionary legitimacy while transitioning to developmental governance. The establishment of the Herbert Chitepo School of Ideology in Zimbabwe mirrors the CPC's Central Party School, reinforcing the importance of ideological education and cadre development in sustaining political clarity and cohesion.

China's meteoric rise on the global stage is inseparable from the strategic leadership of the CPC. In 1978, China's GDP stood at around 150 billion U.S. dollars. Today, it exceeds 18 trillion U.S. dollars. More than 800 million people have been lifted out of poverty -- the largest poverty alleviation effort in recorded history. China now possesses the most extensive high-speed rail network in the world, with over 48,000 kilometers of track. It is home to three of the world's five largest banks and has become the largest trading partner of over 120 countries.

These are not just statistics -- they are a testament to what disciplined governance, long-term planning and ideological clarity can achieve when aligned with national interests.

To the African continent, and to Zimbabwe in particular, the CPC offers not only solidarity but also a tangible model of development that rejects the chaos of liberal short-termism. The CPC's insistence on policy stability, its embrace of state-led development, and its refusal to subordinate national goals to external donors offer a compelling counter-narrative to the failures of externally imposed structural adjustment programs. For African nations grappling with post-colonial recovery and economic restructuring, the CPC's success is a strategic inspiration.

Zimbabwe's cooperation with China has continued to flourish. Recent Chinese-backed projects include the expansion of Hwange Thermal Power Station, the construction of the new Parliament Building in Mount Hampden, the rollout of NetOne's 4G and 5G networks, and numerous joint ventures in mining and agriculture. These developments reflect a continuation of shared priorities.

In today's increasingly multipolar world, where the Western model of liberal democracy is in crisis and geopolitical instability is on the rise, the CPC represents a steady and important pole of global leadership. For Zimbabwe and other African nations seeking to protect their sovereignty while achieving developmental milestones, the CPC offers not just lessons but a pathway -- one that prizes unity over division, planning over improvisation, and ideology over drift.

As we mark the 104th anniversary of the Communist Party of China, we are reminded that history does not reward those who wait for change -- it honors those who plan, organize, and lead it. The CPC has not only led China to the forefront of global affairs -- it has also lit the way for many across the developing world. For that, the world should take notice, and Africa -- especially Zimbabwe -- should take pride.

The CPC is not just a political party. It is a movement, a model, and a mirror in which many African aspirations find reflection.

Editor's note: Dereck Goto is a Harare-based political commentator.

The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the positions of Xinhua News Agency.