Chinese labourers
Chinese labourersBy Editor
Monday October 29, 2007 [03:00]
It is said that if one is too heavily indebted to another, one will lose his or her own independence. This is also said of a man who chooses to borrow another man’s legs because he will go where the owner of the legs directs.
This scenario is likely to be very applicable in Zambia’s relationship with China, especially when it comes to the latter’s investment in our country. Many of our citizens who are genuinely concerned about Zambia’s co-operation with China, not Michael Sata who wants to cash in on this subject, have raised very valid concerns which the government needs to look at seriously.
Only last week, commerce minister Felix Mutati said he was worried about the influx of Chinese labourers in Zambia. And on Saturday, we saw and heard Mutati on television saying Zambia as a country should show appreciation for the great help it has received from China for many decades.
It is true that Zambia needs economic allies like China if it has to make meaningful economic developments. But we see a great danger in this approach. It is clear to us that our government is over-glorifying Zambia’s economic friendship with China. Suddenly, there is so much importance being attached to China and its people, even at the expense of the Zambian people.
No doubt, there should be some mutual interdependence in Zambia’s relationship with China in the same manner hands that wash each other do. There is mutual interdependence in the act of handwashing, just like people depend on each other.
However, looking at the way our government is taking relations with China, it is clear that we have surrendered our rights and control in terms of how China is going about its investment in Zambia. While it is appreciated that China is doing a lot to improve or develop Zambia’s economy, it is not to be accepted that investors from China will come here and operate as they please.
It was interesting to hear Mutati complain about the influx of the Chinese labourers in Zambia on the one hand, and urge Zambians to show appreciation for China’s help on the other. We wonder in which way Zambia or Zambians have to show appreciation for China’s help. Is it by ignoring the Chinese labourers flooding our streets? Or is it by tolerating those Chinese investors who are flouting Zambia’s labour laws.
If the government is crying about the influx of Chinese labourers in Zambia, who is going to stop this anomaly? Like Nevers Mumba and others have rightly observed, we cannot blame China for the influx of Chinese labourers in Zambia, we cannot blame China for some of their investors who are not respecting our labour laws, we cannot blame China for those Chinese investors exploiting our people.
All these things are happening because our government has tolerated them. It is said that when one is unhappy, the cause of his unhappiness is within oneself. We remember how some Chinese investors in Sinazeze last year humiliated the then Southern Province minister Alice Simango when she visited the mine where some Chinese investors are operating to physically check how the Zambian workers there were exposed to inhuman conditions as well as hazardous working conditions. Simango was denied access to the premises. Instead of applying the law against these cheeky investors, Simango just broke into tears, lamenting the bad attitude of these Chinese investors.
Today, nothing has improved in this mine and our people are continually exposed to harsh working conditions. It is true that poverty transforms a free man into a slave. When a man becomes penniless, he loses the freedom and options that he had before. Yes, Zambia may today be poorer but we are not expected to lose our freedom and options.
How can we continue to complain about the high unemployment levels when we are surrendering everything to the Chinese and other foreigners?
While it is true that we need Chinese expertise in certain fields, we do not expect a horde of Chinese labourers in Zambia. Do we really require a multitude of Chinese or Taiwanese to come to Zambia to push wheelbarrows? Do we need the Chinese to mix cement with sand when most of our youths are jobless? Do we need Chinese to grow vegetables in Zambia for Zambians? Do we need the Chinese to cook and sell nshima at City Market? Are we being serious as a country?
Enough has been said about this investment from our friends in China. What we require now is pragmatic action from our government. We expect to see the Minister of Home Affairs and his officials in the ministry to play their role effectively just like the Minister of Labour and other related ministries should do.
Labels: CHINESE, EDITORIAL, FDI
posted by MrK @ 6:21 AM
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