adminbiggest copper producer but only if they observed the law, especially by employing more Zambian workers.
In his first official appointment since being elected president last Friday, Sata met Chinese ambassador Zhou Yuxiao in a closed door meeting to dispel fears his sometimes fierce anti-Chinese rhetoric while in opposition would translate into a shift in investment policy.
However, he also made it clear that Chinese companies that have so far ploughed more than US$2 billion into developing the mining sector in the southern African country would not be getting preferential treatment.
“We welcome your investment but as we welcome your investment, your investment should benefit Zambians and not the Chinese,” Sata said.
“It is in law that all investors who are coming to Zambia should bring a limited number of expatriates whom they cannot find in Zambia. My party has taken concern at the unlimited number of people your investors are bringing to Zambia.”
Ambassador Zhou pledged that China would work with the current government to ensure that all Chinese investors followed local labour laws.
The envoy said it was in the best interest of Chinese investors to use the local people because it is cost effective.
Meanwhile, Chinese President Hu Jintao has congratulated Zambia’s new president Michael Sata for winning the presidential election.
President Hu said China looked forward to working with the new government. He added that Zambia and China would continue to be traditional friends.
President Hu said that the Chinese government hoped that the mutual respect and ties between the two countries will continue.
Even though China is a major player in the former British colony, its presence is not universally appreciated.
Miners frequently complain about poor pay and working conditions in Chinese-run mines in the Copper Belt, and in 2005 several miners were shot and wounded after complaining to management about their salaries.
Chinese building projects also employ many Chinese labourers to the disgruntlement of Zambian construction workers.Non-Chinese mining companies in Zambia include London-listed Vedanta Resources , Canada’s First Quantum Minerals and Swiss commodity giant Glencore’s Mopani local unit. First Quantum’s share price has fallen 30 percent since the September 20 election, while Vedanta has shed 15 percent.
Beijing is said to have closely watched last week’s election in Zambia. However, the pro-China president, Rupiah Banda, was voted out of office and replaced by Sata, a nationalist politician who campaigned against
his rival’s China policies.
Last Friday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei would not say if China’s policies towards Zambia would shift.
Hong dismissed claims that Beijing financially backed Banda’s re-election campaign. – Reuters/Lusaka Times/Zambian Watchdog/The Herald.
Online Reporter