Southern Africa: Same Toolkit, Different Outcomes - China and the Media in Southern Africa

What the report says

Reporters Without Borders (RSF), in a press release published by AllAfrica, says China’s expanding media footprint in Southern Africa is changing how news is produced and distributed through content-sharing deals, infrastructure projects and journalist training. The group argues that partnerships with Chinese state-controlled media can weaken editorial independence and increase Beijing’s influence over information flows in the region.

The article points to different national examples. In Zimbabwe, state media organizations have signed multiple agreements with Chinese outlets, while Chinese companies also advertise and host exchange visits for local journalists. RSF also cites pressure on independent reporting, including a 2022 incident in which the Chinese embassy in Harare reacted sharply to a newspaper’s coverage of Chinese mining activity. In South Africa, Chinese-linked investors hold a stake in a major publishing group, and the same group’s African News Agency has carried Xinhua material. The report says this can obscure the original source as articles move through local newsrooms.

Beyond these cases, the piece describes broader Chinese engagement across Southern Africa, including telecoms infrastructure, satellite television networks, sponsored content and media fellowships in Beijing. It says Portuguese-speaking countries are also affected, though to a lesser degree, and notes that Chinese-backed projects often support state-aligned outlets more than independent media. More generally, RSF argues that the relationship is uneven: African partners may gain equipment, training or funding, but Chinese state media retain the stronger position in shaping what information reaches audiences.