Mwanawasa urges nation to embrace Chinese firms

LUSAKA – President Levy Mwanawasa has urged Zambians to be more positive about Chinese firms and their workers, a plea that comes a week before Chinese President Hu Jintao’s visit to the southern African nation.

In a meeting with supporters late on Thursday, Mwanawasa said he regretted violent anti-Chinese protests that erupted in the country last year and described China’s involvement in the Zambian economy as helpful. “The Chinese government has brought a lot of development to this country and these are the people you are demonstrating against?” Mwanawasa said in Ndola, 300 km north of the capital Lusaka.Zambian labour unions and opposition parties have accused Chinese firms of underpaying workers and compromising safety in Zambia’s vast copper mines as they increase their investment in the resource-rich African nation.In July 2006 six miners were shot in a protest at the Chinese-owned Chambishi copper mine, an incident that spurred anti-Chinese sentiment and led to criticism that Mwanawasa and his government were too close to Chinese interests.Opposition presidential candidate Michael Sata made alleged Chinese exploitation of Zambian workers a key part of his unsuccessful bid to unseat Mwanawasa in an election late last year.Mwanawasa, however, has responded to critics by pointing out the benefits of Chinese investment in Zambia, which is struggling to modernise a creaking infrastructure, especially in the mining sector, the lifeblood of the country’s economy.On Thursday, the Zambian president announced China would loan Zambia $39 million to buy equipment needed to build and repair roads, a sign he said of the Asian giant’s good intentions toward Zambia.”The feeder roads are in a bad state (and) we are going to use equipment which our counterparts will provide.It is therefore unfair to start criticising the Chinese government,” Mwanawasa told state media.Chinese investment in Zambia will be the main focus of Hu’s visit to the country next month.The Chinese leader will open a smelter forecast to produce 150,000 tonnes of copper each year and lay a foundation stone for a five-star hotel the Chinese plan to build in Livingstone, a Zambian official said.Mwanawasa also said the Chinese had agreed to construct a new soccer stadium in Ndola.Nampa-Reuters”The Chinese government has brought a lot of development to this country and these are the people you are demonstrating against?” Mwanawasa said in Ndola, 300 km north of the capital Lusaka.Zambian labour unions and opposition parties have accused Chinese firms of underpaying workers and compromising safety in Zambia’s vast copper mines as they increase their investment in the resource-rich African nation.In July 2006 six miners were shot in a protest at the Chinese-owned Chambishi copper mine, an incident that spurred anti-Chinese sentiment and led to criticism that Mwanawasa and his government were too close to Chinese interests.Opposition presidential candidate Michael Sata made alleged Chinese exploitation of Zambian workers a key part of his unsuccessful bid to unseat Mwanawasa in an election late last year.Mwanawasa, however, has responded to critics by pointing out the benefits of Chinese investment in Zambia, which is struggling to modernise a creaking infrastructure, especially in the mining sector, the lifeblood of the country’s economy.On Thursday, the Zambian president announced China would loan Zambia $39 million to buy equipment needed to build and repair roads, a sign he said of the Asian giant’s good intentions toward Zambia.”The feeder roads are in a bad state (and) we are going to use equipment which our counterparts will provide.It is therefore unfair to start criticising the Chinese government,” Mwanawasa told state media.Chinese investment in Zambia will be the main focus of Hu’s visit to the country next month.The Chinese leader will open a smelter forecast to produce 150,000 tonnes of copper each year and lay a foundation stone for a five-star hotel the Chinese plan to build in Livingstone, a Zambian official said.Mwanawasa also said the Chinese had agreed to construct a new soccer stadium in Ndola.Nampa-Reuters