Sata to send KK to China as special envoy

Sata to send KK to China as special envoy
By Moses Kuwema
Sun 30 Oct. 2011, 13:59 CAT

PRESIDENT Michael Sata says the government will soon send first Republican president Dr Kenneth Kaunda as a special envoy to China to renew Zambia's acquaintances with that country.

During a luncheon hosted for the Chinese community in Zambia at State House yesterday, President Sata said the destiny of any nation depended on the leadership and policies of the party in power.

"The Chinese have spent money on training their manpower. We will in few days time be sending Dr Kenneth Kaunda (right) as our special envoy to China to go and renew our acquaintances and to go and say thank you to the Chinese. The destination of any nation depends on the leadership and the policy of that party. When there was Kaunda, he knew what to present to the Chinese, the Chinese were willing to come and work. When Levy Mwanawasa was here, he knew what to present to the Chinese. He asked the Chinese, "I need a hospital." they asked, where? Chainama. They gave him a football ground," President Sata said.

President Sata said during the campaigns, he promised to sort out the Chinese but that this time around, he would use them.

"If we give the Chinese contracts and we don't give them proper specifications, they will do as we give them. When we gave them a contract to build Tazara railway we gave them specifications. We have not been complaining about Tazara and it is up to us when we sign agreements, they must be a back up on any agreements. When we give the Chinese, the Chinese are very generous and because you are hoodwinked by their generosity you don't give them proper specifications of the road. Don't blame the Chinese, blame yourself because the Chinese are willing to work, they are very hard working people," he said.

"The Chinese can do with one meal a day; use them properly and if you find there are more Chinese on one job, don't blame the Chinese, blame the immigration officer who gave them work permits. Do they deserve those work permits?"

President Sata said Zambia had a small population but had more problems than China.

"We are a small country with 13 million people, vast land, we have more problems than China. Instead of moving fast we walk slowly. The Chinese walk very fast and because of the aggressiveness of the Chinese, they can easily be noticed and complained against," said President Sata.

And Chinese Ambassador to Zambia Zhou Yuxiao called on the Chinese businessmen to conduct their business in an internationally accepted manner by observing the laws of the land and respecting the local culture.

Ambassador Zhou hoped that the legitimate rights and interests of the Chinese would, at the same time, be protected.