In his sudden u-turn over Chinese investment, President Sata has called for continued closer ties with China.
Sata who met with Chinese Deputy Foreign Minister Zhai Jun in Lusaka yesterday called for continuous cooperation and exchange with China.
He recalled the long history of friendship between Zambia and China, saying at the beginning of Zambia’s independence, China helped Zambia build a railway linking Tanzania and Zambia, which is regarded as a road of freedom. Through the railway, the Zambian people started to learn about and understand China.
In recent years, funds and aid from China play an important role in local economic and social development.
Zambia is willing to be a continuous development partner and further strengthen cooperation in the sectors of agriculture, education and infrastructure construction, the president said.
Zhai said since the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Zambia, the two sides have always enjoyed mutual understanding, with both countries supporting each other in core issues and helping each other in national development.
Both sides have witnessed fruitful achievements in fields of economy, trade, agriculture, mining and infrastructure construction.
The deputy foreign minister called for joint efforts of the two sides to further develop understanding and exchange among people, so as to deepen all-weather friendship between China and Zambia.
Meanwhile China has given Zambia K75.3 billion for poverty reduction programmes out of which K43.3 billion is a grant while K32 billion is an interest-free loan.
Minister of Finance Alexander Chikwanda said the money will be used on programmes that are of a priority in nature within the context of the Sixth National Development Plan.
He was speaking yesterday in Lusaka at the signing of economic and technical co-operation agreements.
“The grant and loan facilities will, therefore, be put to good use to ensure maximum benefits are derived in the fight against poverty. Zambia greatly admires the strides made by China in uplifting the standard of living of its people…” Mr Chikwanda said.
He said Zambia and China share identical views and positions on many international and regional issues of common interest, adding that Zambia is glad to see China’s success in coping with the recent global financial crises.
Mr Chikwanda said Zambians are grateful for the assistance China has continued to render to Zambia in many areas of development.
He cited construction of the TAZARA railway line, the Levy Mwanawasa Stadium and the Lusaka General Hospital as some of the examples of China’s commitment to continuing cementing friendship with Zambia.
Mr Chikwanda said Zambia has positioned itself to ensure it maximises benefits arising from the 2009 Africa-China Declaration, where the Chinese government made available US$10 billion to finance a series of projects in Africa from 2010 to 2012.
He said Zambia is also gratified by the China-Africa Development Fund to establish a regional office in Zambia with an investment outlay of US$1 billion.
“In this regard, the Government of the Republic of Zambia reiterates its desire to access Chinese financial assistance and technical expertise to extend the TAZARA railway line to Angola,” Mr Chikwanda said.
And visiting Chinese Vice-Foreign Minister Zhai Jun said despite the long distance between the two countries, Chinese people have always regarded Zambians as their brothers and sisters.
“In the long course of our friendship, our two peoples and our two countries have always been supporting each other and helping each other. I am confident that the Chinese people will continue to stand together with the Zambian people in economic and social development,” Mr Zhai said.
He said China is ready to continue supporting and co-operating with the Patriotic Front government to bring about prosperity and create a better future for the two countries.
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I bet he is getting some kick backs from the Chinese. If you stay in a glass house , please never throw stones.
Poor leadership qualities, talking without thinking. How many U-turns in about 80 days. Galu uyu
Some u-turns deserve applauding!
Nah one has ever choked from swallowing them pride. But this one sure, at the expense of the poor masses? Applaud”!!!!!!!
Smart move, Your Excellency MCS
*Yawning*
MCS, way to go…get some change from China-man. China man bank-rolls Obama..
Make sure China-man does not slaughter Zambians in China..
He has find out that the MMD had best economic policies than his party.Now he is learning how the MMD was doing it.Unfortunetry our president is dull to learn and can not concentrate,soon or later he will throw in the tower and everything will go to the dogs.
That u-turn is an indication that Sata thought he could run roughshod over zambia’s international relations without serious repercussions like he did running his PF cult.There are nuances and tact in international diplomacy Mr Sata it is not done like you’re running a tujilijili stall in kalingalinga slums.Your short temper and irresponsible talk may have served you well in politics but international diplomacy is an area you approach with tact.
Donchi kubeba! Osadabwa. Once a trickstar, always a trickstar.
TIPICAL,UNPRINCIPED, I SOMETIMES FAIL TO UNDERSTAND HOW US BLACK ZAMBIANS ARE ITS VERY DIFFICULT TO BE TAKEN FOR OUR WORDS. WE ARE A DISGRACE TO THE AFRICAN SOCIET AND TO OURSELVES. YOU MEAN HES MCS NEVER USE TO SEE ALL THE GOOD THINGS CHINA HAS DONE FOR ZAMBIA WHEN HE USE TO BE IN THE OPPOSITION. ITS A SHAME MOST OF THE THINGS HE PROMISED HE HAS U-TURNED, THINGS LIKE
WIND FALL TAX
NEW CONSTITUTION
REDUCTION ON TAX
AMONG SO MANY OTHER THINGS,WE HAVE BN TAKEN FOR RIDE,THIS OS VERY UNACEPTABLE,DEMEANING AND ABSURED
jombo proof read your english please, //// us black zambians? when he use to be in the opposition,? african societ?, he never use to see all good?………………and for good measure how has the president done a u-turn on the constitution? how are you doing in america? think in english please and you even call him HE MCS how is he HE ?
Too little, too late! The Chinese are ultimate strategists. They have been running empires for over 4,000 years unlike these Bemba***** who get excited at running a finkubala kantemba. The Chinese have long memories. Sata has lost their confidence forever. They will not forget the insults Sata subjected them to just 90 days ago. Under the scheme of things, Zambia is nothing and the Chinese have bigger fish to fry in the rest of the World. That is why they send a Vice Minister to see the President. So where will PF now get new “infestors”? Maybe Sata should talk again to the Bishop of Canterbury who he kowtowed to and reawaken close ties with the West (amid their Eurozone crisis)!
I wonder if some body has taught Sata about some diplomatic etiquette for him to make such an acute u-turn? Finess,adroitness,sagacity or restraint are obviously not his strongest points given his outbursts,rage and acting first then asking questions later.
…..did i say ….and with immediate effect?
Sata is dead clever. Its the voter that is so stupid especially the kaponya voter. Short sightedness.
Who would do without China in this centuary? Vote with consious and vote wisely.
HE NIDS TO APOLOGIES TO THE ZAMBIAN PIPO HE SHLDNT HAVE RUSH TO APOLOGIES TO ANGOLA HE NIDS FIRST TO APOLOGIES TO THE ZAMBIAN PIPO FOR HODWICKING THEM.HE CRIED WOLF WE CAME TO HELP NEXT TIME HE CRIES WOLF, WOLF! WE WONT AVAIL OURSELVES AM A DISAPOINTED CITIZEN.OUR KWACHA HAS NEVER LOST VALUE LIKE IT IS TRADING NOW.
did SATA say no to Chinese investors or he said NO to the Chinese investors not abiding to the Zambian Laws??? you pipo should start reading and understanding what you read not jes speaking from without! this man is making these investors respect u natives & you cant appreciate him for that, all u have to say is ‘Sata is making a U-Turn…Sata is making a U-Turn’…SHAME on YOU!!!
Good move President Sata. We can’t afford not to be in good books with the Chinese. These and other international friends are the people who will help us build Kafue Province and the rest of Zambia.
Keep dreaming!
WITH THIS KIND OF CHEAP POLITICS OUR COUNTRY WE WILL NEVER DEVELOP.FOR NOW IT WILL BE DIFFICULT TO TAKE HIM FOR HIS WORD EVEN THE TOLK ON CORUPTION HE CANT BE TAKE FOR HIS WORDS MEAL MEAL PRICES ARE STILL HIGH, TRANSPORT STILL HIGH ,SUGAR PRICES STILL HIGH EVERYTHING IS UP YET HE PROMISED WITHIN 90 DAYZ MAY HE MEANT 90 YEARS
HE SHOULD TAKE AS FOR GRATED WE NEED TO APPLICIATED FOR MAKING HIM TO BE A HEAD OF STATE.
How do say ”Please excuse my humble tail firlmy tucked in between my legs. I have always known we cannot do without you.” in Chinese?
Sorry i meant to say’ he shouldn’t take us’
What most *****s on this site including the hosts dont understand is that MC was asking for two things from Chinese and all other investors is that, they treat Zambians with respect as regards labour laws and that the general Zambian populous shouls benefit from their invetment. Now looking at your sentiments it appears its not just the economy that MMD damaged but your Heads are equally damaged. Sadly, there seems to be no cure, however, for sane Zambians i say bravo and continue to rally behind MC. Zambia will never be ruled by arrogant criminals and senseless tribalists so continue choking with envy because you wont have another opprtuntiy in your life time to bury cash under ground.
Ba Jombo Nokia PF has not even clocked 3 months in office. Where on earth can you improve an economy in 3 months cachine muli jombo. To improve the economy we need 1st to change our mind set from complainants to hard workers. Remain complaining abt this and that. Necilishina cine @ Jombo temube ifyamano mwi jombo
SATA and false pretence!!
. When someone says that when you give them money they can buy deliver you a car and when they get the money from you they fail to do so you can take them to police and they will be charged with “Obtaining Money by False Pretence”.
. The same should apply when a politician says if you vote for me I will give you development in 90 days, I will give you constitution in 90 days, I will introduce the windfall tax; but when you vote for him he does not give you the things promissed in exchange for the vote, then you can take them to police and they will be charged with “Obtaining Votes by False Pretence”
.
SATA has one of the above cases to answer to the Zambian public!!!!
.
I hope the police can take it up!!!
If only they can sign intermarriage agreement so that zed guys especially bembas can marry Chinese.
Smart U-turn! Only a wise man can see his mistakes and corrects them before he suffers the consequences! Those questioning this noble U-turn are shallow minds and you don’t understand politics!
@ZAMAN BUT THATS WHAT WE WERE TOLD BY HE MCS THAT HE CAN DEVELOP THIS COUNTRY IN 90DAYS(3MONTHS) .HAVE U JST COME IN ZED FOR U NOT TO KNW THAT HE MCS PROMISED TO DEVELOP THIS COUNTRY IN 3MONTHS
# 8 OBATALA/////////////////////////////// The bemba men are for usTonga women, we want to test power, let the contract be between you and chinese women, bemba men get the best jobs so all mothers are teaching us how to get near state house is through a bemba man, but we worry because all women are after bemba men it will make it hard for us all to have a bemba,,,,,,maybe they should be a contract for bemba men to marry three women from three tribes, not only marry fellow bembas
jombo nokia./////////////////;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;..your meaningless rants have become boring, take some english writing classes and come back to the blog
# 21 Monk Sq Analysis,
You forgot that it is much wiser to AVOID mistakes than to make mistakes and try to correct them because correction is most often very costly and sometimes leaves many wounds and scars.
That is why wise medical doctors will tell you that prevention is better than cure.
It is sad that you have chosen to measure wisdom at the stage of correction rather than at the stage of prevension.
I cannot condemn your definition of wisdom but if I was the one difining wisdom I would do it differently.
I think the Editor has misled everyone once again. I do not think he has made a U- turn as such. I think he has laid down the standard that he will expect from them and the confines they will work within. That said, I think Zambians must not hate the Chinese. We have to hold our government responsible for the contracts they sign. All contracts signed with foreign entities must be displayed for the public to scrutinise.
I feel sorry for those who voted our lunatic president believing that he can bring development in 90days, he is a U-turn president, the man without a solid foundation. Next will be BAROTSELAND AGREEMENT, i’m afraid.
Which U-turn you creatures??? Did Sata say he would never work with the chinese? What Sata said was that he would not allow a situation where the chinese is a rider and Zambia a horse. This we have witnessed, PF is putting in place laws to protect Zambian workers, no more raping our minerals with impunity by the chinese. Now it is a win – win situation. Wake up you dull creatures.
hahahahahaha!!!!!!!!!!
i can’t believe they consider us brothers and sisters! am based in china and we are subjected to acts of racism everyday!! brothers and sisters my ass!
Its not so much money is it?
#2 am strongly suspecting that as well the turn about is worrying ….what are these Chinese up to……
Chi jombo Nokia ifiko..
How can anybody question that Chilufya has u-turned when he termed the Chinese ‘infestors’? He is on record saying that he was only campaigning when he said that he would deal with the Chinese once elected. If he has only realised the importance of the Chinese economy since he was elected, that in itself is worrying as you would expect somebody wishing to run the country to be somewhat conversant about global realities. For example, instead of witch-hunting, we should be hearing about the measures that the PF administration are putting in place in order to mitigate the effects of a global downturn should the euro zone crisis escalates.
Dr Obatala……… will you marry me?
36 sorry am not gay. I am tonga and proud.
#31 Chinadoll got a point there. The Zambian government should raise the issue of racial attacks on Zambians based in China. Especially that the Chinese continue saying we are friends, brothers and sisters. Otherwise its just empty words meant to hoodwink us as they carry our copper away.
African and Zambian govts should put a premium on human life. The USA or UK ensure that their citizens are not mistreated wherever they are. Even if its one person.
@Chinadoll01- You are subjected to acts of racism because you make poor choices. Why do Zambians go to China to study business, engineering? You can go to better places. Besides, when you are uneducated and broke on the other hand, you do not easily get respected. I do not think Chinese are racist, you are being very irrational.
@Mutinta Hatembo- Stick to the script otherwise I will get at you for your irrelevance!
Dr Obatala uli chipuba. Who says Tongas can`t be gay? Ke ke ke ke ke ke!
@ DR OBATALA- Firstly, your name sounds Nigerian. Secondly, your points are so petty and pro- Tonga. I have noticed that the women who usually get intermarried are Tonga, argue!
Bishop Chihana said it all
Too little too late! All the money now is with the Chinese and they will not forget how PFooters called them “infestors” barely 90 days ago. The Chinese have long memories and are strategists. Sending a Vice Minister just confirms the low opinion they have for the current Zambian govt. They can afford to lose the $2bn they have already put in Z but can Z afford to lose any future Chinese FDI? Who will fund the Kafue Lower Gorge power station, the Mongu Kalabo Road, the Airport MFEZ and the Chambishi MFEZ? Definitely not your debt-stricken westerners. This is the problem of having a so-called leader who talks before he thinks. When absolute power walks on crooked legs with little education and a massive ego, you are headed for disaster!!
You people leave my president alone don’t you know that i can cross the nile river infested with the well known nile crocs,only see if i will cross it when and inches away from the river,fools! i told people that the cobra spoke badly about indians,chinese and things u havent got cause he was far away from the cobra eating KING COBRA……….Right now i can fly to london with my wings…my fellow zambians can believe
CORRECTION ‘when am’ not ‘when and’
@Linjoko Mwasimu- Do not be delluded. The US can fund any of those projects but they do not waste time investing in simple projects that cannot bring the world to its knees. They invest in North Africa and area that China is failing to enter effectively.
The Chinese are not very good strategists, actually the US is, if China does not do those projects, other countries can do them, after all, they are not doing them for free. But when USAID pulls the plug at the ministry of health, the population will be halved!
Number 40- U ARE mistaken China offers practical issues in Engineering no ****ed up bureucracy issues like west education, in the west u will be good at writing proposals ,begging for money but China Engineer will teach u how to design and construct. Just check the Engineering pieces a China man has built all over the world, in your poor , corrupt country check the projects Chinese are doing, we build according to ur specifications. If u have less cash and want to sudy overseas China is the place. No racisim , the Zambians know how they enjoy in china, oh by the way they don’t even want to go back after studies.
China is simply the best place for ur education. Zambian’s are our brothers and sisters thumbs up to Hon Kambwili to tell us to marry zambian girls.
China just executed a South African woman for drug trafficking. At least demand for human rights.
I think Sata is not very sure of his own convictions. Two days ago he was bootlicking the russians, and today it’s the chinese. What is wrong with this man? This is political prostitution of the highest order. This man has to know who’s side he’s on lest he annoys those war hungry mafias in the west. Chinese are masters of deception, i wouldn’t pledge too much allegiance with them. All this stuff they say about being friends with zambia is mere rhetoric. To know how chinese operate first read “the art of war by sun tzu” then read “thick face black heart by ching ning chu”, then after you are through with that try to live with them for 3 years. These chaps will leave us naked in the tropical sun with nothing. The president has to be very wise when dealing with these racist people.
Zed government,reconsider not to extend TAZARA to Angola. There are more problems in the company and should not be extended to the other side. Lets just have another railway line with its headquarters in Zambia.