MWENYA Musenge says the National Democratic Congress is not against Chinese investment in Zambia. Following NDC consultant Chishimba Kambwili’s swipe at the Chinese owners of Luanshya Mine, the Patriotic Front has claimed that the opposition NDC is against Chinese investment.
But Musenge, the party’s secretary general, said the NDC supported Chinese investment into Zambia if such venture was meant to benefit Zambians.
“NDC wishes to put it on record that the party is not against Chinese investment in Zambia. We support the one China policy; in fact we support Chinese investment inflows into Zambia if such investment is meant to benefit our nationals. As NDC, we are alive to the fact that China’s presence in Zambia can never and should never be underplayed,” Musenge said.
The former Copperbelt minister said his party knew that the presence of the Chinese in Africa was deep-rooted and the benefits that Africa had derived from that country were extremely enormous.
He further noted that China had helped many African nations during their liberation struggle and continued to pursue economic diplomacy with many countries. Musenge further explained that he was aware that Chinese investment in Zambia stood at over US $10 billion in the last 10 years. He, however, stressed that his party was against illicit and inimical activities of some Chinese nationals in the country.
Musenge urged Chinese investors in Zambia to follow the labour laws and pay the right salaries, including improving conditions of service to the Zambian workers.
“As a party, we want to urge the Chinese inventors in Zambia to follow the labour laws and pay the right salaries to our Zambian colleagues. Chinese investors should also consider improving salaries and other working conditions particularly in the extractive sector. Our comrades from China have unfortunately found themselves on the wrong part of the law because they have in certain instances elected to go against existing norms and procedures. As NDC, we welcome any form of Chinese investment for as long as such investment fully benefit’s the people of Zambia,” he said.
Musenge said the NDC’s advice to the Chinese not to go against procedure should not be misconstrued purely because of political mileage. He said the party was merely looking out for the suffering worker.
Musenge emphasized that his party was against the continued abuse of Zambian workers and the payment of slave wages to the local labour force contrary to labour laws.
“Currently, there seems to be a diplomatic spat with China on our stance on the presence of Chinese in our country. To the contrary, NDC has no issues with China and the investment in Zambia. If NDC advises the Chinese not to go against procedure, this should not be misconstrued purely because of political mileage. If Chinese firms follow the laid down procedure’s and correctly remunerate our workforce, the NDC will have no issues with the Chinese,” he said.
“It is an open secret that Chinese run mines are the worst in terms of safety and standards. As NDC, we want the Chinese to improve on this aspect so that tension with the unions is lessened. It is unfortunate that selfish political leaders in the PF have abused the generosity of our Chinese comrades. The NDC in government promises to forge further and promote bilateral ties between Zambia and China. The NDC in government will call for improved and increased trade ties with China. The NDC in government will partner with the Chinese to ensure that the mining sector is reopened through increased investment in the extractive sector. Zambia tends to benefit more from Chinese particularly in the areas of infrastructure and information technologies.”
Musenge said it was unfortunate that the current PF regime had taken for granted the cordial relations that Zambia and China had enjoyed over the years.
“Chinese have been allowed to do the wrong things because of selfishness and greed by this Pf regime,” he said.
Musenge said NDC was ready to meet the Chinese envoy to Zambia to explain the party’s stance on Chinese investment.
“As NDC, we are more than ready to meet our comrades at the Chinese Embassy in Zambia so that we can explain to them our stance on Chinese investment in Zambia. Zambia, like many other countries, need foreign direct inflows [investment] (FDIs) to run its economy,” said Musenge.
Last week, police in Ndola warned and cautioned Kambwili for allegedly proposing violence. Copperbelt police commissioner Charity Katanga said Kambwili was questioned for proposing violence against Chinese nationals in Luanshya.
Read this article from the original source: Musenge: We’re Not Against Chinese Investments.