China renews relationship with Zimbabwe – urges West to remove sanctions

China's Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi arrived in Zimbabwe last Thursday amid talk of a controversial deal that could see it take control of the country's vast platinum reserves in return for a multi-billion dollar cash injection.

On Friday Yang Jiechi urged Western countries to lift sanctions on Zimbabwe. "Let me be frank, we believe there should be lifting of sanctions by some countries," Yang told journalists after meeting President Robert Mugabe and senior government officials in Harare.

Talks of elections dominated the second anniversary of the GNU this week, which was marked by the violence in Harare earlier in the week. Interestingly, the churches clearly spoke out against the violence, asking for a meeting with Police Commissioner Chihuri.