Centre for Elections and Governance (CEG) Trustee Gershom Musonda has welcomed Patriotic Front (PF) Roan Member of Parliament Chishimba Kambwili’s U-turn on Chines investment and appreciation of investors in improving Zambia’s economy and general welfare of the local people.
Mr.Musonda however said the MP may not be representing the views of the local people and may just be advancing his political advocacy.
He added that Mr Kabwili may have influenced the business transaction to some degree, especially if some members of the company’s tender committee may have known that Roan Bread Company belonged to Mr. Kambwili.
Mr Musonda said Kambwili has been opposing Chinese investment in Zambia and even incited workers and the general public against Chinese investors.
The trustee noted that that the MP has suddenly started praising the copper company after his company, Roan Bread, received a cheque for supply of goods and installation equipment at China Non-Ferrous Mining Corporation (CLM).
He said the political hatred fanned by PF and its MPs against investors, especially those of Asian origin, have led to industrial unrest in the mines and other sectors.
“The violence is not only justified, but also scaring away investors from Zambia as other poor countries remain stable and welcome investors in a peaceful atmosphere” he said.
He has since urged the electorate in all constituencies to start evaluating the performance of MPs in preparation for the 2011 presidential and parliamentary elections to assess whether their leader’s public conduct and views respond to local needs.
[ZANIS]