Editor's Note: Under the leadership of the Communist Party of China (CPC), China has worked with all other countries to build a community with a shared future for mankind, which has boosted confidence and added impetus for development of Asia and the world. For the celebration of the 100th funding anniversary of the CPC, we are launching the “CPC in eyes of foreign military students” series, viewing China and CPC from the perspective of foreign soldiers.
By Zimbabwean Army Lieutenant Alistar Abiyola Dube Mapundu
The total number of Communist Party of China (CPC) members by the end of 2019 has reached 91.914 million. Such a huge number makes me curious about the CPC – why would so many people in China be willing to join it? What makes it grow from a small party of only tens of people to one of more than 90 million members today?
I came to study at the PLA Army Engineering University in 2018. In the past three years or so in the university, I’ve lived among many excellent CPC members, such as President of the university and my teachers. They are always considerate, and care about what we think and how we feel, and try their best to help us. On April 18, the Independence Day of Zimbabwe, the university especially held a flag raising ceremony for us. The days spent with CPC members have made me learn more about the CPC and come to understand what the CPC’s biggest strength is – its commitment to a people-centered approach and serving the people.
I witnessed how China fought and defeated the COVID-19 pandemic under the leadership of the CPC last year. When the pandemic first hit Wuhan, the medical workers from all over the country rushed to support the city, and constructors built the Leishenshan and Huoshenshan hospitals against time. The CPC always gives top priority to people’s lives and health. The fact that the diagnosis and treatment of all COVID-19 cases in China is for free further drives home to me the idea that the CPC is a party that serves the people whole-heartedly.
Actions should be guided in the right direction. One day, I saw a phrase – 14th Five-Year Plan (FYP)– on the bulletin board in the university. My teacher told me that 2021 is the first year of China’s 14th FYP for economic and social development. From the 1st FYP to the 14th now, China has developed ever better and faster guided by the goals set in those plans.
What also impresses me greatly is China’s anti-poverty campaign. To help the poor population get rid of poverty, the CPC and the Chinese government have made concerted and consistent efforts to carry out targeted assistance in Pverty –stricken areas to not only increase the income of the poor, but also improve their living conditions.
While sparing no effort in creating a better life for the Chinese, the CPC is also contributing to world peace and development, with special assistance to developing countries, as well evidenced by the fact that my countrymen and I are now studying in China. When we return to Zimbabwe, we will be able to make contribution to our own country’s development with what we have learnt in China. In addition, China has build the largest UN peacekeeping standby force with the most complete variety of contingents, and has been always committed to multilateralism, solidarity and cooperation, contributing to the peace and development of the international community.
During the global battle against COVID-19, China shared its experience in fighting the novel coronavirus with and offered assistance for many countries. I feel grateful to China because when the pandemic broke out in Zimbabwe, we received a lot of supplies from China; and when the coronavirus is still rampaging across the world, many of my countrymen have been inoculated with vaccines provided by China. China has taken sincere and forceful actions to earnestly help the world overcome the fallout of the COVID-19, demonstrating its sense of mission and responsibility as a major country.
Before I came to China, I didn’t know much about the CPC. But now if anyone asks me what the CPC is like, I can answer with certainty that the CPC is a party that serves the people whole-heartedly.
(This article is based on an interview by the PLA Daily with Zimbabwean Army Lieutenant Alistar Abiyola Dube Mapundu, who had once studied at China's PLA Army Engineering University.)