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Wife clobbers husband to death

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Police in Mazabuka have arrested an elderly woman of Mugoba area in Chief Mwanachingwala’s chiefdom in connection with the murder of her husband.

Both Police and Chief Mwanachingwala confirmed the arrest of Funny N’gandu to ZANIS in Mazabuka today.

Chief Mwanachigwala narrated that a rift between the couple was first witnessed
following bitter quarrel at a beer party.

He said a fight thereafter ensued when the now deceased husband asked the wife to
stop drinking beer and go home and prepare food for the children as it was getting
late.

Chief Mwanachingwala said the wife was furiously incensed by the husband’s request
to go home and prepare food for the family and descended on the husband and started
beating him in full view of stunned bar patrons.

Chief Mwanachingwala, who is the first cousin to the deceased, said the woman
continued beating her late husband even when they arrived home.

He said the woman is later suspected to have used an unspecified weapon to further
clobber the husband leading to his death.

Chief Mwanachingwala, who provided fuel to the Police for them to pick up the
suspect, said his cousin died upon reaching Mazabuka District Hospital.

The body of the deceased Simon N’gandu, 67, is lying in Mazabuka District Hospital
mortuary.

FNDP, a panacea to most challenges

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Mambilima Constituency Member of Parliament John Chinyanta has assured the electorates that challenges being experienced in the constituency will be addressed through the Fifth National Development Plan (FNDP).

Mr. Chinyanta says low staffing levels in schools and health centres, bad road infrastructure, as well as staff accommodation shortages will soon be a thing of the past.

Mr. Chinyanta, who is also Community Development and Social Services Deputy Minister says government is implementing the Plan with sense of urgency.

He told ZANIS in an interview that government will upgrade Mulundu Basic School into a High School, and that accommodation for health personnel would be built at Mambilima clinic.

He said he is aware of the major challenges affecting the people in the constituency but added that government would act swiftly to answer most of the challenges faced by residents.

The Parliamentarian pointed out that Mwense Rural Council would also benefit from the US$39 million funds China gave Zambia to buy earth moving machines to repair all the damaged roads.

He said the local council would soon receive a Grader to rehabilitate damaged roads in the area.

MMD officials told to lay off market toilets

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The Lusaka City council (LCC) has warned the MMD branch officials operating from Cha Cha Cha market to desist from collecting toilet fees on behalf of the local authority.

LCC Public Relations Officer, Henry Kapata told ZANIS in an interview that councils are the only institutions authorised to collect market levies and toilet fees in markets across the country.

He was responding to reports that the MMD branch officials in the market have taken over the running and collection of toilet fees at the Market alleging that LCC has failed to maintain sanity at the toilets despite collecting money.

Mr Kapata noted that the MMD branch officials should have first reported their grievances to the Market Manager who would have sought an audience with the LCC officials to resolve the matter.

“We appreciate the efforts by the MMD to clean the toilets but it is illegal for them to collect fees on behalf of the council because we haven’t given them consent” Mr Kapata said.

He said the branch officials should stop the exercise immediately as they are violating the law.

Mr Kapata said the council has since called for a meeting with market officials to see how best they can resolve the matter.

Meanwhile the LCC will in December this year start dragging illegal car washer dealers to court.

Mr Kapata noted that despite the council confiscating equipment from the dealers, they have continuously violated the law hence the council’s decision to start taking them to court.

He noted the mushrooming of illegal car washers have been a great source of concern to the council as they have brought about unnecessary filth to the city.

Mr Kapata said that people who are planning to set up car washes should first consult the planning department of the council so that they are advised accordingly.

“You just can’t come from no where and set up a car wash. There so many things one has to consider like the drainage system etc,” Mr Kapata said.

He said that the council has the responsibility to ensure that it maintains sanity in the city.

Girl 14 defiled, impregnated

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By Tovin Ngombe
A 14 year old girl has been defiled and impregnated in Sinazongwe district in Southern Province.
James Sigaba the father of the defiled girl said in an interview when he reported the matter to Sinazongwe police that his daughter was in grade seven at Siamuyala Basic School.

Mr. Sigaba who is from Siamuyala village in Chief Sinazongwe area identified the alleged defiler as Peter Mukonka who is 20 years old of Siamuyala Village.

And Mrs Linety Sigaba the mother of the defiled girl said her daughter is two and half month pregnant.
Mrs. Sigaba disclosed that the alleged defiler has accepted that he was responsible for impregnating her 14 old year girl.
She said the medical report obtained from Maamba Hospital and approved that the girl was pregnant.

Police source at both Maamba and Sinazongwe said the district has the highest number of defilement cases in Southern Province.

The sources said parents have a problem of reporting defilement cases because they always try to sort them outside the court and when they fail to agree that is when they report topolice.

EU support to Zambia will continue with or without the EPA

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Zambia has been assured that its development assistance from the European Union, EU, would not be affected even if the country decides not to sign the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPAs) this December.

Head of the EU Delegation in Zambia Derrick Fee told ZANIS in an interview that the
EU’s support to Zambia’s developmental programmes is guaranteed .

Dr Fee disclosed that Zambia will in December be expected to sign for the 10th
European Development Fund (EDF).

Currently, the European Union is Zambia’s largest cooperating partner in financial
support for road projects.

Dr Fee however said countries that will not sign the EPAs will fall back to the GSP
of the World Trade Organisation (WTO).

He said Zambia would not feel the impact of the change because it has Everything
But Arms (EBA) under which the country is enjoying duty free and quota free market
access.

Dr Fee however pointed out that Zambia would still be required to adhere to the
new rules of origin that will apply in the EPAs.

He stressed that the signing of the EPAs with the Africa Caribbean and Pacific
Countries (ACP) and those negotiating under the Eastern and Southern Africa
configuration, is meant to strengthen inter- regional trade.

” By signing the agreement with ESA, it means we are moving towards inter- regional
trade we will be trading with more than 15 countries under the configuration,” he
said.

Zambia and other ACP countries are in December expected to sign the EPAs which will
come in effect in January 2008.

But the civil society have urged countries not to sign the agrerements saying the
EPAs have not addressed the developmental aspect.

The EPA are the trade and development agreements that the European Union is
negotiating in parallel with African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) regions.

They will replace the trade chapters of the 2000 Cotonou Agreement between the EU
and the ACP countries.

The ACP countries are being called upon to speed up negotiations so as to meet the
December 2007 deadline.

The objective of the EPAs is to bring each EPA region under a single trade regime to
encourage regional integration, growth of regional markets and creation of regional
supply chains.

Under current arrangements, the 40 ACP Least Developed Countries (LDCs) already
have duty and quota free access to the EU while the 37 non-LDCs have special tariff
preferences under the Cotonou Agreement

In April this year, the EU proposed to remove all remaining quota and tariff
limitations on access to the EU market for all African, Caribbean and Pacific
regions as part of the Economic Partnership Agreement negotiations.

PF retains Nchanga parliamentary seat

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The opposition Patriotic Front (PF) has retained the Nchanga parliamentary constituency seat in an election marred by apathy.

PF candidate Wylbur Simuusa polled 8,201 votes while his closest rival Charles
Chimumbwa of the ruling MMD got 2,139.

All People’s Congress (APC) candidate Christopher Mwape came third with 587 votes
followed by United Party for National Development (UPND) candidate Alvin Simwinga
who polled 532 votes.

Independent candidate Ginetone Kachamba polled 110 votes with Forum for Democracy
and Development (FDD)’s Stanley Simukoko getting 103 votes.

United National Independence Party (UNIP) candidate Plyson Gondwe polled 78 votes
while another independent candidate Lillian Kaoma came out last with 47 votes.

Announcing the results at Chingola Civic Centre, Returning Officer George Lupani
said 149 ballot papers were rejected while two were disputed.

There was jubilation, characterized by honking and display of fireworks, among PF
cadres who waited for the results that were only announced after mid-night.

MMD Campaign Manager Gabriel Namulambe said it was difficult for his party to
concede defeat as some PF cadres allegedly conducted campaigns at polling centres
during voting in violation of the electoral rules.

He said a recount was necessary for the MMD to verify the actual results of the polls.

Meanwhile, PF’s winning candidate, Mr Simuusa called for cooperation from all
Chingola residents, including the losing candidates, if economic development was to
be achieved.

Mr Simuusa said developmental programmes cannot only be implemented by a candidate
from the ruling party as the constituency had access to resources such as
Constituency Development Funds (CDF).

And Anti Voter Apathy Project (AVAP) Executive Director Bonny Tembo expressed
concern at the poor turn out of voters at most polling stations.

Mr Tembo said there was need to declare election days a public holiday to ensure
more people participate in choosing their leaders.

He was however impressed with the turn-out from the youths compared to the mining
fraternity who are the majority of the voters.

According to a ZANIS survey, less than half of the registered votes cast their votes
in most polling districts such as Kabompo where 255 had voted as opposed to the 668
registered voters.

At Twashuka polling district, 112 people voted against 257 registered voters while
at Twasekelela 280 voted against the registered 742 voters.

meanwhile, the MMD has won the Lumbe ward by-election in Senanga, Western province.

MMD’s Leonard Malala polled 265 votes against his only opponent Muzinga Muyambuta of
the United Liberal Party, ULP, who got 57 votes.

Returning Officer Cecilia Wamulume confirmed the results to ZANIS in Senanga.

She said eight votes were rejected.

The Lumbe ward in Senanga Central constituency, fell vacant after the death of MMD’s
Mashekwa Mubika.

EU support to Zambia will continue with or without the EPA

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Zambia has been assured that its development assistance from the European Union, EU, would not be affected even if the country decides not to sign the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPAs) this December.

Head of the EU Delegation in Zambia Derrick Fee told ZANIS in an interview that the
EU’s support to Zambia’s developmental programmes is guaranteed .

Dr Fee disclosed that Zambia will in December be expected to sign for the 10th
European Development Fund (EDF).

Currently, the European Union is Zambia’s largest cooperating partner in financial
support for road projects.

Dr Fee however said countries that will not sign the EPAs will fall back to the GSP
of the World Trade Organisation (WTO).

He said Zambia would not feel the impact of the change because it has Everything
But Arms (EBA) under which the country is enjoying duty free and quota free market
access.

Dr Fee however pointed out that Zambia would still be required to adhere to the
new rules of origin that will apply in the EPAs.

He stressed that the signing of the EPAs with the Africa Caribbean and Pacific
Countries (ACP) and those negotiating under the Eastern and Southern Africa
configuration, is meant to strengthen inter- regional trade.

” By signing the agreement with ESA, it means we are moving towards inter- regional
trade we will be trading with more than 15 countries under the configuration,” he
said.

Zambia and other ACP countries are in December expected to sign the EPAs which will
come in effect in January 2008.

But the civil society have urged countries not to sign the agrerements saying the
EPAs have not addressed the developmental aspect.

The EPA are the trade and development agreements that the European Union is
negotiating in parallel with African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) regions.

They will replace the trade chapters of the 2000 Cotonou Agreement between the EU
and the ACP countries.

The ACP countries are being called upon to speed up negotiations so as to meet the
December 2007 deadline.

The objective of the EPAs is to bring each EPA region under a single trade regime to
encourage regional integration, growth of regional markets and creation of regional
supply chains.

Under current arrangements, the 40 ACP Least Developed Countries (LDCs) already
have duty and quota free access to the EU while the 37 non-LDCs have special tariff
preferences under the Cotonou Agreement

In April this year, the EU proposed to remove all remaining quota and tariff
limitations on access to the EU market for all African, Caribbean and Pacific
regions as part of the Economic Partnership Agreement negotiations.

Weekend Cup Previews

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Kabwe Warriors and demoted Nakambala Leopards clash in this years BP Top 8 final at Nkoloma stadium in Lusaka.

Warriors will be hoping to secure an 8th BP Top 8 title and move within one of record title winners Mufulira Wanderers who have won it 9 times.

Both sides will be at full strength with notably Warriors who have all their international players available for the match.

Striker Emmanuel Mayuka defenders Clive Sichondwe and Bronson Chama have all be with held from Under-23 duty to be available for the final.

Nakambala on the other hand, who will be appearing in their first-ever major cup final, will also have their under-23 star striker Signs Chibambo available to lead in attack.

Chibambo’s partner upfront and ex-Afrisports attacker Dan Masumba will be hoping to add to his 7 competitive goals he has already scored this season.

Meanwhile, honors this past season between the two sides have been even.

Nakambala won 1-0 in a Week 8 game in Mazabuka on April 9 before Warriors got their revenge in Week 23 on August 22 with a 2-1 win at Railway Ground.

And in the 3rd and 4th place playoff at the same venue to be played earlier at lunchtime Zanaco will take on Konkola Blades.

There will be more cup action on Sunday when six out of the eight the last 16 of the Mosi Cup games will be played.

Topping the bill is the Lusaka City Council match against defending Mosi Cup champions Zesco United including 2006 runner-up Red Arrows clash against Tazara Express at Nkoloma.

The rest of the fixtures will see promoted Chambishi visiting Young Arrows while at Woodlands, National Assembly and Zamtel engaged in all-relegated showdown.

In Ndola, Forest Rangers await Green Buffaloes while Nchanga Rangers wait Lusaka Dynamos in Chingola.

The City of Lusaka-Warriors and Kalomo Jetters-Blades matches have all been postponed due to both visiting sides BP Top 8 commitments 24 hours earlier.

ZCCM-Investment Holding admits wrongs at Maamba coal mine Management

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By Tovin Ngombe     


Zambia Consolidated Copper Mine (ZCCM)  Investment holding  Executive Officer Joseph Chikolwa said there are a lot of wrong things obtaining at Maamba coal  mine  management  level because there is no one in the senior rank.    

Mr. Chikolwa said in an interview over the unlawful demotions and reduction of salaries for some employees that the issue of selective salary increment and employing people without proper qualification at the Maamba mine was something that could be addressed.    

He said Maamba Coal mine board could have acted on wrong information from Management over the selective salary increment for some of the workers.    

“It pains me to see a lot of people suffering at Maamba mine as government workers we have a duty to ensure that no one is punished over a small issue, we can not fail to address the current problem at Maamba mine,” Mr Chikolwa said.    

Mr. Chikolwa said government has since appointed Stephen Mutembo as the new managing Director for the mine to replace Wylbur Simuusa who is now the Member of Parliament for Nchanga constituency under Patriotic Front (PF).    

However, the department of labour under the Ministry of Labour and Social Security has urged Maamba Coal Mine Management to rescind its decision of unlawful suspension and of reduction of salaries from some of its employees.    

In its letter dated 29 October to Maamba coal mine management Choma labour department states that management selectively increased salaries for some individuals in the salary scale of M5 leaving others without any proper reason.    

The letter reads that instead of correcting the mistake, after the some workers complained, they punished them further through demotions and suspensions as though denying them an increment was not enough.    

“The charge you gave them of unauthorized disclosure of confidential information came about because of your management’s unfairness in dealing with issues of human resource,” the letter reads.    

It also stated that the said charge of the disclosure of confidential information to the Sinazongwe District Commissioner (DC)  Laiven Apuleni could not hold because he is a senior government official and is under oath to know such matters.    

The letter states that if management strongly felt that a punishment of some kind was needed a reprimand would have been better than demoting them and deducting their salaries.When contacted Maamba Coal Mines Acting Mine Manager Songwe Nyembe said it was wrong for the workers to report to the DC because he was a third party even when Maamba coal mine is owned by Government.    

But when asked  later to disclose the decision that management made Mr Nyembe said   his management has sent the head of Industrial Relations Manager Mathias Siilongo to go and talk to the labour officer in Choma.    

Mr. Nyembe alleged that the Choma labour officer who issued the letter only listened to one side of the story and failed to get management’s view.    

Acting Labour Inspector Peter Phiri said Maamba Mine management has refused to rescind its decision of unlawful demotion and suspensions.    

Mr. Phiri said since Maamba Mine was a government institution it was wrong for management to fail to address the matter because the whole issues boarders on people’s salaries and welfare.He said if the matter is taken to industrial relations court it was still government that would bear the costs and in an event that it looses the case.    

Mr Nyembe said it was not wrong for the demoted workers to be replaced with unqualified personnel if they were able to deliver.    

Some of the demoted employees in Management have been replaced with people that have grade seven qualifications.    

The demoted people whose salary scale has been reduced from M5 to M6 would also be supervised by people who are less qualified with craft certificates.

Kaumba awaits four players from BP Top 8 final

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The Zambia Under-23 national team entered day 2 of training camp in Lusaka ahead of next weekends Olympic Games football tournament Group B qualifier away to Cote d’Ivoire in Abidajn on November 17.

Four players continue to be absent from Under-23 training camp due to BP Top 8 final commitments this Saturday.

Nakambala Leopards and Kabwe Warriors who meet Saturdays BP Top final match to be played at Nkoloma stadium in Lusaka have held on to their key players for the weekend fixure.

Warriors have held on to defenders Bronson Chama and Under-23 captain Clive Sichondwe including striker Emmanuel Mayuka.

Demoted Nakambala have also kept striker Signs Chibambo away from Under-23 training camp to prepare for their showdown against Warriors.

“They are not new players and they have played with us for a long time and know what to do,” Kaumba said today at the end of Thursday morning’s training session at Queensmead.

“We’ve trained with Mayuka in Maamba when he joined us for the first time and we know what to expect from him too,” Kaumba said.

Kaumba said he was expecting the four players in camp on Saturday evening immediately after the BP Top Eight final.

He said the three South African based players called for the game against Ivory Coast will join the team next week en route to Abidjan.

Kaumba said the team leaves for Abidjan on Thursday, November 15 ahead of the match scheduled for Saturday the 17th.

Team:

Goalkeepers: Rabson Muchelenganga (Power Dynamos), Kalililo Kakonje (Nathi Lions, South Africa), Jacob Banda (Zesco United).

Defenders: Bronson Chama, Clive Sichondwe (Both Kabwe Warriors), Hichani Himoonde (Lusaka Dynamos), Charles Siyingwa (Konkola Blades), Maybin Ngosa (Green Buffaloes), Davies Nkausu (Pretoria University, South Africa), Eugene Shamakamba (Zamtel FC)

Midfielders: Francis Kasonde, Simon Bwalya, Norman Munthali (All Power Dynamos), William Njobvu (Lusaka Dynamos), Thimothy Mbewe (Red Arrows), Stophira Nsunzu (Konkola Blades)

Forwards: Signs Chibambo (Nakambala Leopards), Emmanuel Mayuka (Kabwe Warriors), Reuben Tembo (Green Buffaloes), Given Singuluma (Bay United, South Africa), Felix Nsunzu (Konkola Blades)

Nyirenda names provisional 26-man Under-17 team

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ZAMBIA Under-17 coach Wesdon Nyirenda today named his provisional 26-member squad that goes into final training camp at the end of November to prepare for Decembers Cosafa Under-17 Championships in Windhoek.

Two prominent faces from Nyirenda’s team that took part in the 2007 Africa Under-17 Cup qualifiers last year have been retained in his latest squad.

The duo is Zanaco midfielder Chisamba Lungu and Lusaka Dynamos left-winger Tom Bakala.

However, Dynamos’ hot-shot striker Kabusa Mwila was not selected despite his earlier inclusion in the team because he is not eligible and has now been elevated to the Under-20 team.

The team was named today at the end of a three-day selection training camp held in Lusaka.

The selection trials that began on Monday and ended yesterday attracted 35 out of 41 players called-up by Nyirenda for the Lusaka tryouts.

Zambia Under-17 team is in Group B at the COSAFA Under-17 Championships together with Mozambique and Swaziland at the tournament to be held in Windhoek from December 8-15.

Team:

Goalkeepers: Kelvin Musonda (Kabwe Warriors), Allan Chibwe (Konkola Blades), Joel Kanyeba (Kalewa).

Defenders: Jimmy Mwale (City of Lusaka Colts), Ben Maleka (Nakambala Leopards), Christopher Munthali (Afrisports), Percy Kabaso, Lawrence Chungu (Both Police Blue Eagles), Steve Kabamba (Mufulira Wanderers), Jimmy Chilufya.

Midfielders: Chrispin Lungu (TP Rangers), Rabby Lwambula (Nkana), Mukapa Chabi (Mufulira Wanderers), Kelvin Ntaka (Chilanga Heroes), Saulani Phiri (Winford Academy), Wishhard Silengo (Nakonde), Chisamba Lungu (Zanaco), Raymond Simakoloyi(Mazabuka United), Mathew Nkowani, Patson Kaimana (Chilenji Academy)

Strikers: John Chingandu (Zesco United), Steve Sakala (Nchanga Rangers) Clarence Bellinton (Mining Rangers) Gift Wamundila, Kalonga High), Tom Bakala, Humphrey Maseneko (Ronald Ross).

Financial problems stalls Choma street naming exercise

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Choma town clerk Golden Banda says financial problems have made it difficult for the local authority to implement the street naming project in the town.

Mr Banda says the project which was approved by the full council meeting will only
be implemented when funds are available.

Responding to concerns raised by members of the District Development Committee on
delays to put up street names i the town, Mr Banda, explained that the matter was
still alive and would be implemented as soon as funds were sourced.

He said the council was currently facing difficulties in raising the projected
revenue to sustain operations because of an outdated valuation roll which does not
capture most modern buildings that attract payment of rates.

Mr Banda said the council has however submitted to the relevant authorities the
proposed valuation roll for approval.

He said once the new valuation roll is approved, the local authority will widen its
revenue base and be able to provide the much needed services to the residents.

The town clerk assured residents the local authority will strive hard to meet their
expectations.

Rampant child marriages and sexaul violence worry NGO

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Plan International Zambia has expressed concern over the increasing number of child marriages and sexual violence in Luapula province.

Plan International Zambia programme manager at Mansa office Lizzy Mwindilila said
her organization was worried at that invreasing number of children were dropping out
of school in the provinve due to pregnancies and early marriages.

Ms Mwindilila said a rapid assessment done by her organization revealed that 147
pupils from seven basic schools stopped school due to pregnancies and forced
marriages in Mansa district between 2005 and this year.

Ms Mwindilila was speaking yesterday during the Child Protection Stakeholders’
meeting in Mansa.

Ms Mwindilila said government’s efforts to strengthen the law against sexual
violence were being defeated by the silence surrounding sexual violence at family
level.

She said this situation was making it difficult for law enforcement officers to
prosecute the perpetrators of sexual violence.

The manager said sexual violence against children was now becoming a chronic problem
 which if left unchecked had the potential to thwart developmental efforts and also
affect the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals.

She said abuse cases involving fellow children were also on the increase in the
province.

Ms. Mwindilila warned that Plan International Zambia had no kind words for the
perpetrators of sexual violence and it condemns the evil act in the strongest
terms.

Ms. Mwindilila also called upon parents, guardians, traditional and other leaders
in the community, the church, NGOs and government to be actively participant in the
fight against sexual abuse.

Voting in some Nchanga polling stations kicks off on low note

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Voting in some parts of Nchanga Constituency on the Copperbelt Province started on a low note with some places like Mpezeni polling station recording 50 people out of 254 that cast their votes by 12:45 hours.

A check by Zambia News and Information Services (ZANIS) found people trickling in
slowly and some of the people talked to said the elections had come at a time when
they are busy in the fields.

At Chimfinsa polling station, 80 people had cast their votes after 1300 hours out of
the registered 264 voters while at Mbayi polling station, only 44 people cast their
votes by 13:30 hours.

Meanwhile, United Party for National Development (UPND) Copperbelt Province
Chairperson Joe Kalusa and 11 others were last night picked and detained by police
in Chingola.

Mr Kalusa said he was picked up at the civic centre where he was attending a
conflict management meeting where they reported a case of members from the ruling
party who were about to distribute mealie meal, chicken and cooking to the
electorate.

He said that he was at first charged with theft which he said he did not understand
and later it was changed to conduct likely to cause breach of peace adding that the
case will go to court and that he has already engaged a lawyer.

Mr Kalusa said he was worried that the eleven that have been detained are registered
voters who will not vote if they are not released. He said he has been denied an
opportunity to check on what is happening in the polling station.

However, the atmosphere in the constituency is calm as no reports of violence have
been reported.

Growing pains of a superpower

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The 21st century, we are told, will be China’s. Usually this is intended as a warning: if the world’s leading economies fail to respond to the Chinese “threat”, we will face a second-class future trailing in the wake of the People’s Republic.

This blinkered view gets us nowhere. China is a proud nation with a turbulent history, and it makes no secret of its superpower ambitions. It is certainly a fierce competitor for resources – witness the panic in the US about China’s thirst for oil, and what that means for fuel prices. But this vast and diverse country is already much more than a simple adversary. Without China’s supply of cheap manufactured goods, massive overseas investment and talented labour, the world’s economy would be in serious trouble.

In this age of globalisation, China is also a partner – which is why we should all be concerned about the challenges ahead. China faces immense social, political and environmental problems, and whatever is a problem for China is by definition a problem for everyone else too. Today in rich western countries, people worry about poisoned Chinese pet food and imported toys tainted with lead. Tomorrow, it could be a global climate meltdown driven by China’s exploding demand for energy.

China’s leaders are no fools. Most senior members of the central government were trained in that most practical of disciplines, engineering. They know that the nation’s present trajectory is unsustainable, both economically and environmentally. If China is to continue its remarkable development, it must transform itself from an exporter of cheap manufactured goods built to western blueprints into what its leaders call an “innovation nation” – able to sustain its growth through home-grown ingenuity. So they are pouring huge sums into science, particularly at the applied end of hot fields like nanotechnology and renewable energy. China’s spending on research and development has more than doubled in the past five years, and official plans call for a further rise – from 1.34 per cent of GDP in 2005 to 2.5 per cent by 2020.

If the plan bears fruit, some of the innovations that will be needed to solve global problems are likely to come from China. Already, top Chinese researchers and entrepreneurs trained abroad are returning to their homeland in unprecedented numbers. They are emphatic about one thing: wanting China to be able to stand with the US and other leading nations as an equal partner.

Can China really reinvent itself as a lean, green technological superpower? Will the rural poor get left behind as the urban middle class reaps the benefits of rapid economic growth? Or will the economic miracle falter or even collapse? And can the Communist Party maintain its grip on power through it all? Will it ultimately be an engine of reform, or an obstacle to change? Will China eventually embrace democracy as it is practised in the west? Or does conflict lie ahead?

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