Sunday, November 24, 2024

CHINESE Ambassador to Zambia slams opposition politicians

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CHINESE Ambassador to Zambia Li Qiangmin

CHINESE Ambassador to Zambia Li Qiangmin has described as denial, ill-motivated, loss of sight and vision for some politicians to attack Chinese investment.

Mr Li commended President Banda for his consistent support to the process of ensuring resumption of production at the CLM mine.

Mr Li said it was sad that a ‘unique Zambian politician of rare breed’ could attack China with a claim that the Chinese did not bring any investment when the investment was there for all to see.[quote]

He was speaking during the production resumption ceremony at CLM mine in Luanshya yesterday.

He cited the construction of Tazara and the establishment of the Zambia-China economic and trade cooperation zone, the building of the Stadium in Ndola, construction of hospitals, schools and Hydro-power station as some of the investment under the aid of china.

“All those undertakings are not only well received and extensively recognised by all African governments and people on the continent but also applauded by the well travelled Western researchers and credible institutions.
“This politician’s remarks are absolutely baseless and ill motivated or he is just in denial or lost sight and vision which is very dangerous for any politician,” he said.

Mr Li praised the Zambian workers for working side by side with the investors to have the copper mine resuscitated.

He said during the last year’s global recession, Chinese funded companies, with government stakes and shares, forged ahead without reducing investment, laying off of employees and downsizing production.

He said the investment at the Luanshya mine would in two years time reach US$400 million and believed that the commitment of more investment, more recruitment and more output would demonstrate a more dynamic picture.

CLM chief executive officer Luo Xin’geng pledged the company’s commitment in continued investment in the mine.

Mr Luo said in Luanshya yesterday that CLM would put more emphasis on renovations and construction at the mine and the investment would next year increase to US$170 million from the current US$38 million.
Describing the production resumption as a Christmas gift to President Rupiah Banda, Mr Luo said that as production at the mine resumed, development of Mulyashi project was also in full swing.

Mr Luo said his company would strictly abide by the Zambian laws and regulations, respect Zambian culture and rely on Zambian employees to manage Luanshya mine and participate actively in the welfare of the community to benefit the people of Luanshya.

CLM board chairperson Tao Xinghu said the company would adopt new labour service articles and long term employment contracts next year.

Mr Tao said according to the company’s investment plan, the accumulative investment in the next two years would go beyond US$400 million and that CLM would have a production capacity of 60,000 tonnes of Copper after the development of Mulyashi mine.

[Times of Zambia]

210 COMMENTS

  1. This is undiplomatic. An ambassador is not expected to comment on local politics. Anyway times are changing and the Americans do this

  2. I like the sata pact but i think he should take his words back regarding the Chinese investers. Not sure exactly what his words where though….

  3. If this comment was made against government officials there would be calls for the ambassodor to be sent back..since its against the opposition everyone is quite. Li Qiangmin does not understand what the Zambian politician is against. It’s the calibre of investment. In the Western world they make sure Chinese investment is of high standards and the Chinese oblige. The type of mechandise sold in Zambia is not of the POOR quality and so are the working conditions for the workers.

  4. Am sorry My Ambassador you are not Zambian, let the Zambians rule on their own. It said teach a person how to fish and give him the fishing rode then he will be doing it on his own, yes some projects sponsored by chine have worked BUT recently we are seeing chine taking over Zambia people loosing jobs because of chines investment Chines nationality sweeping on the streets, for me you chines people are just helping yourself to strip Zambia and enrich chine thanks to the dull leaders we have. Once you donate it does not mean you have to control our nation. You are still foreigners and you will remain foreigners to Zambia.

  5. I think there is a breach of diplomatic code of conduct by the Chinese Ambassador. Who is he to attack our great and true leader who, beyond any questionable doubt, has a commanding respect and support from our people based on the great contribution he has made to this country. Ask people in Lusaka or every ministry Mr Sata has been to and you will see what am talking about. Why can’t a person have a different view? If Chinese investment has been great since independence, why are we still a third world country. If we keep this status quo, come 2030 we shall still be beggers and these are the issues our visionary leader is talking about. People who have lost vision and sight are the MMD whose pockets you have fattened and whose integrity you have bought. You can not buy PF. VIVA SATA.

  6. This guy doesn’t understand diplomacy or multiparty politics. Will one you MMD chaps please tell your Chinese friend:

    1. It is not his position to interfere in the internal politics of any country, including Zambia
    2. It is not his position to comment on multiparty politics since that is not something the Chinese allow or understand

  7. Maybe he thinks it’s OK because he doesn’t say “Sata” he just says “this politician”. Undereducated in diplomacy

  8. Mr. Sata has dug his own grave with his anti-Chinese stance. Which international diplomats would be willing to work with him should the impossible situation happen that he becomes president? The west is looking to China for investment. Who is Zambia to say no? Even Harvard and Oxford education economist Dr. Dambisa Moyo supports Chinese investment, why Zambians choose to listen to Sata who promises a 90 day economic miracle is beyond me.

    The Chinese have invested millions in the Zambian economy and have created thousands of jobs. Would anyone tell me LCM would be running if it wasn’t for Chinese investment.

  9. True PF cadre: Are you saying no matter what insults, lies,xenophobic comments, mud the PF throws/peddles against the chinese they should just stomach it and have no right of reply? Is this why you (PF) want to insult them with impunity.

  10. Definitely the opposition in what ever form will win 2011 elections so how is this Mr. Chow ho hang bruce Lee going to work with them. The job of the opposition is to check that the government is not abusing power directly or through the Chinese etc

  11. The Ambassador is an imbecile. Does he know what he just meant by the words he used “unique Zambian politician of rare breed”? Gentlemen, the words have a racial overtones or someone must ask this smelly skank what he really meant. I am really offended that a word like that can be tolerated in this day and age. How many breeds are there in Zambia apart from all being Zambians and Africans? Let this be a lesson to Banda that in other circles, they regard them as rare breeds. What a shame!

  12. Kalos2020! Another very good point. This story is not going to go away, I think Mr Li might be looking for job quite soon

  13. #8 Mr Capitalist

    What make you think there were no other bidders for LCM. Stop being myopic like your MMD. Looks like your face is stuck and busy licking your leaders boots and you can’t see what is happening anywhere else, all you see is the ground and your master’s boot you are licking.

    My Friend LCM would be running. Other bidders would have stepped in. Lumwana is not run by the Chinese, Equinox is not a Chinese Company, Metolrex is not a Chinese company, Vendatta is not a Chinese company. Stop lying to us that the only investment in the world today is Chinese. There are several other companies adding value in our economy that are not Chinese, ZAMBIA SUGAR, ZAIN , MTN and many agricultural companies that are not Chinese. Stop blackmailing your country you sell out

  14. In my opinion what the ambassador said does not amount to interference or internal meddling. He was putting the record straight. He said China has made important investments in this country which Mr Sata seem to have forgotten the exit. He gave example of the Tazara and other. All he did was to remind this politician what he needs to see.

  15. This guy is an I.dioty. who is he to insult Zambians in the presence of the Republic-President and the first republic president? He must be sent away back to china. Zambians please wake up…..are we so d.ull that we can not run our country affairs for the chinese to insult you like that? He is busy bringing in his useless chinese to take away jobs from Zambians and he thinks Zambians would accept such no sense? Igo Igos are now competing with chinese igo igos…is this investment sure? SATA knows what it means to Zambia if these guys were left to do as they want, Zambians will remain with nothing as chinese will out number Zambians. Mind you they are 1.4 billion. So if 20 million can come to Zambia thats nothing to them.

  16. Ba Capitalist, so you are a rare breed in Canada? People should learn to read in between the lines before they support being called names by these so called investors. Why allow such nonsense to prevail in your own house? Just because a visitor has money does not warrant them calling you names. Let alone move out with your wife. By supporting this knucklehead’s statement tells us a lot about how low some of you would go for a piece of pie. I did not know that some of you are rare breeds. Shame on you guys falling for such investments attached to being insulted.

  17. “What make you think there were no other bidders for LCM.”

    Name the bidders Mr True PF Cadre. Tell us who the other bidders were.

    “Stop lying to us that the only investment in the world today is Chinese.”

    Produce a quote where I said the ONLY investment in the world today is Chinese.

  18. “There are several other companies adding value in our economy that are not Chinese”

    Produce a quote where I have explicitly denied this.

  19. MapondoyaMbuzi what the ambassador said was that Chinese investment is above and beyond any criticism at all. I’m afraid I don’t agree. Mr Sata has the perfect, inalienable, God-given right to criticise any investment or other national issue that he feels like criticising. Mr Li on the other hand has no right to criticise Mr Sata, since we don’t live in China under the Chinese government. Last time I checked. This is the typical Chinese Communist Party line – “anyone who criticises us is mad”

  20. Sata supporters whether you like or not the Ambassodor is right, its too much of Sata insulting the Chinese. If the Chinese didnt come into Luanshya today people in Luanshya could have continued starving. I was watching a documentary on Muvi TV on Monday where even Chishimba Kambwili has admitted that the Chinese have brought life to Luanshya. At one time Kambwili promised to walk the streets naked to protest the Chinese taking over Luanshya mine, He even did a one man demo at the state house gates but today I hear he is even a supplier to the same Chinese at Luanshya. Bloggers the Western Investors ran away from us, look at what Anglo American did after milking the mines. Please give chance to the Chinese and Indians who are bringing in money. VIVA CHINA INVESTMENT.

  21. Kalos2020

    I know you are prone to lies like the lie you, Chicago city, Smoothcriminal and Kambongolo spread on one thread where you accused me of writing evils on Mpombo but when challenged to prove it you failed to do so. Chicago city even went as far as falsely accusing me of writing evils on Mpombo and his daughters.

    This is the reason why you are spreading another lie where you accuse the Ambassador of calling people names. The phrase ” unique Zambian politician of rare breed” is a figure of speech and not an insult.

    You are behaving like Sata who misunderstood that sometimes govts are addressed by administrative capitals (statement: “is that the responsibility of Beijing or Lusaka”) causing Sata to go on a self riotous rant.

  22. Ba Capitalist, just becoz Dabwisha whatever, says so does not make it so. The girl was selling her book. What is wrong with you people? Having gone to Harvard or Oxford does not mean one has answers to every question. She does hold the monopoly of intelligence. My old mother ran a budget in our successfully and we had a surplus every month, that to me is practical economics. Forget theory bbambo. Paper education is different from real life. So just because she talked about it there should be no opposition to her assessment? How come with all the degrees she cannot run her own business for arguments sakes? So you agree to be called a rare breed just because of her book?

  23. This useless chinese has no right to insult Zambians. Look at how these chinese look down upon you blacks. On VOA an Ethiopian said that the chinese do not regard blacks as humans. This Ethiopian guy supported SATA and was very much concerned with the scorn the chinese put on Africans. Now this is being fulfilled by this i.dioty Li. It is really sad that when he was spitting insults RB and KK were applauding him. Really our country has gone to the d.ogs!!! These chinese LI must go back.

  24. So many people have repeatedly emphasised the uncivilness and hooligan manner in which Sata behaved on straight talk. Becoz of his lack of etiquette, he failed to put across these points some of you Sata loyalists are trying to use to justify your leaders out right rejection and hate for Chinese investment. If I heard right he clearly stated he is against them, and for him its a horse & rider relationship, remember this was said not in Zambia, but on a forum for the whole world to hear. Now tell me, which one of you as an ambassador representing Zambia will be quiet when a national in the country you are in condemns your presence, and undermines your efforts internationally, will keep quiet becoz of diplomacy. Truth be told the ambassador is stating the truth and is justified in doing so!

  25. Capitalist, stick to the point. This nonsense of moving from branch to branch like a monkey does not cut with me. Tell us, what did your fellow rare breed mean by the words he used?

  26. Just to add to #25, The truth is always a bitter pill to swallow, but a real man will accept a wrong and correct it. In this case, I belive the diplomat has execersised the maximum diplomacy he can use in this matter which is no longer domestc but is an international position that Sata representing Zambian opposition has tabled.

  27. Yes Capitalist (natural enemy of the Chinese surely?) please explain to us what this figure of speech “a unique Zambian policitican of rare breed” means

  28. #19 Mr Capitalist

    Stop playing dull with me. I did not realise that you were that dull and I will break it down for you. You sound like the chinese Ambassador and am sure he will also defend himself by saying produce a quote where I mentioned Mr Sata. Basically you said 1+1 and am saying you said 2 and you are now challenging me to produce a quote where you said 2. How dull can you get. Anyway thanks for lowering the bar even further.

    Vendata bid for LCM and the Chinese won the bid meaning there were others bidders. Check on retuters news for 9th May or even just google ” bidders for Luanshya Copper Mines” I don’t even know if I should dignify your other silly questions with an answer. I let the other sensible bloggers fill in.

  29. Kalos2020

    What the ambassador meant was “a politician who stands out from the rest. A politician who is different from all the others”.

  30. Jooste sorry I failed to download the audio, could you please quote exactly what Mr Sata said about China if possible? Thanks

  31. just what is happening in zambia. this is uncultural, its like one allowing his wife to be insulted by a friend. what a shame that people can even support this chocholi. you can give me 50 more years but i will never understand BWEZANI, the things he condones. he stands for nothing that is why he falls for anything.

  32. Mr Capitalist you have translated the “unique” part of the figure of speech. Now what about the “rare breed” part?

  33. Voting for Sata as republican president would be taking this country backwards to the Stone Age in very long strides. The man understands neither economics nor diplomacy. He is simply cantankerous and tittering on the lumpenic fringe.

  34. People basing their judgment about MCS are not well vested with world politics. Do you recall the behavior of Hillary in Congo when answering questions from students? What is wrong with being upset? Politicians like every other human being have feelings and when taken advantage of will defensive and aggressive. Read the words used by the Ambassador, evidence of what I just said. The only difference is that his has racial connotations attached.

  35. True PF Cadre

    What is a strawman argument? A strawman argument is misrepresenting someone’s argument in a way that makes it easier to attack. True PF cadre, you used a strawman argument.

    FACT: I never said the only investment in the world today is Chinese.
    FACT: I never said there are no other companies adding value to our economy that are not Chinese.

    You accused me of saying this, which is a lie and that is why I asked you to produce a quote where I said this. Unless you produce a quote, you are also a liar like Kalos2020, smoothcriminal, Chicago city and Kambongolo who also made false accusations against me.

    I would however like to thank you for providing us with the names of the other bidders.

  36. Sony Ericson. Criticism come in many shades. Sata’s criticism is meant not to build but to tarnish the image and portray the chinese as monsters. Mr Sata’s speeches are meant to evoke anger in us so we rise against the china man. From my observation of the angry bloggers he has succeded in converting some to xenophobic level.

  37. #31 no problem let me do some transcribing for you, hope I can attach the emotion that came with it, let me find that link, give me some time.

  38. True PF Cadre

    What is an ad hominem? An ad hominem is attacking the person making the argument rather than the argument itself. True PF Cadre, you used ad hominems.

    FACT: You called me dull

    This is clearly an attack on me. If I really did say those things (fact #1 and #2 on post #37), then it shouldn’t be so hard to quote them.

  39. Ba Capitalist, how is he different from others? Just because he is opposite to corruption makes him rare? Today as we speak, Republicans in USA have always opposed whatever Obama does. Does that quafiy them to be rare breeds? Call them that if you can. Call any politician in Canada that. You will be blogging from somewhere else. This ambassador insulted all of you Africans as a rare breed. Wake up and smell the coffee.

  40. I REALLY DON’T KNOW WHAT TO WRITE TO PEOPLE LIKE capitalist and that chinese ambassdor! hey, listern up china man.. F.. U AND YOUR communist manners bul..shty. This is democratic? Zambia. and we speak out?

  41. #34 Can’t agree more. Why Zambians are root for this three times presidential loser beats me. The man is aging and his brain is falling fast as my friend in #22 said. when he was asked “is that the responsibility of Beijing or Lusaka”, Sata just went off tanget and totally embarrassed Zambians without even understanding the question. You want a leader who does not listen properly the first time. People ought to download that audio and listen to it

    Back to the topic, again misunderstood by PF cadres as usual. There is no diplomatic breach here. The ambassador clearly defended lies against his country and that is the duty of every ambassador. And the context of his comments were right, but as PF you will blow this out of proportion as usual. The man defended his country period.

  42. Let Sata and his side-kicks explain to the electorate how he is going to transform the Zambian economy within 90 days of, God forbid, assuming office as he has been claiming from the top of anthills. Does the UPND accept this economic hallucination since they are in a pact? Tell us the blueprint as to how this miracle will be achieved instead of masquarading as a Messiah to the gullible. Chinese investment is here to stay and all we need is to fine tune it.

  43. Cool of pipo. Who knows that the American Ambassador in Kenya once refered to the Kenyan goverment as a group of glutton and kleptomaniacs vomiting at the feet of donors. You see the job of a diplomat is to defend his countries interests even if it meand bending the rules a bit. Thats what he did there. If PACT wins they might have to recall him and send him else where. However his pipo the Chinese will be proud of his stance

  44. Kalos2020

    The Chinese ambassador has most likely seen something in Mr. Sata that makes him different from other politicians. I don’t know what he has seen therefore on that matter, I cannot speak on his behalf. You would have to ask him that question (your question: “how is he different from others?”).

    Answer me this, during the US presidential elections, President Obama made a statement, “you can put lipstick on a pig, it is still a pig”. What did President Obama mean by that statement? was he calling his opponent a pig?

  45. MapondoyaMbuzi it’s true that there are many shades of criticism. But OK what about Tiananmen Square, repression and murder in Tibet, detention of “dissidents” without trial, and so on? I think those could be described as monstrous and I’m sure you don’t want to see that kind of happening in Zambia. I’m not clear on why you think Mr Sata’s criticism of the Chinese should be constructive? They’re not going to change because of constructive criticism from a “rare breed”..

  46. #38, excellent observation only that Sata is working for the people. Do you recall how Chinese products have always have lead and other dangerous chemicals to their products? Do you recall how hundreds of pets died last year because of Chinese pet food that was tented? Just few days ago we were reading about Mazabuka women guinea pigs for HIV. When will you people learn? Please try to reflect on the happenings rather than just being supportive of current govts. Banda has no interest in the people but his pockets and those of his children. Bushe when will you guys realize that something is not right somewhere?

  47. Capitalist! you need to travel boy and see how these chinese investors live in many other countries.. these people never intergret with the local peoples.. When they go to a country, they associate with themslves and gives a cold shoulder to all non chinese! What chance do black zambians like you got???? wake up! they are just after our wealthy and they will be gone soonest they get their share..

  48. Simple English adage. You can try to sugar coat something but the truth is it the same thing inside. In fact that is what you guys are trying to do. Sugar coat the racial overtones in that skank of a chinese by calling you rare breeds.

  49. Mr Capitalist ..wonder even why you picked such a name for a dull chap like you. Look at the last sentence in your last post #8 Would anyone tell me LCM would be running if it wasn’t for Chinese investment. just unpack that statement ..am out of here

  50. The ambassador should maybe be advised to try to understand that in Zambia , we live in a democracy ,( or are trying to anyway ! ) and no matter how many negative statements or attacks are put out by opposition politicians , that is democracy at work. Their investment is appreciated , but it has to be done with democratic principles in mind, and not dictatorial tendencies like they can do in China sometimes. Just look at the many land and environmental disputes between the comm govt and locals in many parts of ‘rural’ China today, all in tne communist party’s headlong drive towards ‘modernisation’ , imposing it on the people.

  51. It’s simple for some of you MMD chaps, you should be able to understand:

    Mr Sata is not a diplomat but a politician. His job is, therefore, politics.

    Mr Li is not a politician but a diplomat. His job, therefore, is to stay out of politics and don’t offend the people of the country.

    Since Mr Li no doubt knows that many millions of people voted for Mr Sata last time, he is clearly demonstrating that he doesn’t care at all and the only thing that’s important to him is his country’s profitable deals with the RB administration.

  52. Probably this so called ambassador was the tank driver during the Tianammen Square Massacre. He is opposed to having opposition and democracy. Support this man is like supporting Scientific Socialism.

  53. It is really amazing that this short dude called Chinese ambassador disgustingly insulted zambian opposition politicians without fear and respect for our sovereignity and rule of law that our fathers fought for by using words like “‘unique Zambian politician of rare breed’” above all infront of our own First republican president Dr KK who also attended this function. This ambassador should apologise for his reckless statements and respect zambian freedom of speech or else he should leave our country for he has no respect.

  54. True PF cadre, I have not and will not withdraw my statement unless otherwise. Your request has been denied.

    furu time Zambian

    Thanks for the support.

  55. There is something that irks me and it is the anti-govt faction who seat in their London townhouses coming to voice their anti-Chinese racist views on this blog. It is really saddening that Zambians who enjoy comfy lives in the diaspora would rather see no investment flow in the country because it is “Chinese” investment rather than see that the investors are set to employ close to 600+ employees.

    This will generally mean that 600+ people will have a source of income to feed their families and support other businesses.

  56. CAPITALIST. If it wasnt for MMD’s incomptence Luanshya mine would stil be vibrant- no need for the Chinese. 1) MMD under Chiluba sold the mine to the dubious Binani who run the mine down and then bolted- IT IS A FACT
    2) Enter Levy- He refused to sell the mine to the owners of Chambishi Metals owners who wanted to use the Baluba cobalt for their plant- KATUMBI MOSES had banned DRC concentrates exports.Levy decided to sell the mine to JW his friends who later bolted citing low Cu prices. 3) Lack of feed caused the Chambeshi Metals to shut their plant. ALL THESE ARE FACTS. All MMD has done is like hiding something, the pretend to have found it or mug some body the pretend to rescue him since he didnt see your face.

  57. Sony Ericson: How does the ambassader stay out when Sata and company keeps pulling him in with such lies and misinformation. Which Zambian employer has better working conditions. Not even the government.

  58. What Li should have said as a diplomat is something like this:

    “It’s unfortunate that our investment is perceived in a negative light by certain opposition elements. We urgently seek to dialogue with these elements in order to move forward and forge a position between our nations that is, and is also perceived to be, mutually beneficial”.

    Instead the guy just goes ahead and slates Sata. Doesn’t this tell us something? Apart from that the guy can’t be bothered to educate himself in our national language of English.

  59. I’m have written a very strong worded letter to that p.u.n.k of a chinese, copied it to PF and other serious governance minded organisations.Let the f.u.c.k of a s.m.e.l.l.i.n.g s.u.s.h.i (chinese food) eating creature take his investment else were. I’m beta poor than being insulted by a foreign i.d.i.o.t.

  60. # 62, Deja Vu, this man Capitalist’s memory is so short term. He thinks Chinese are their to make life good for Zambians. Let him say so to the people who died at the Chambishi explosion. Bwana Capitalist, even capitalism has regulations. Labor laws and the employees must be protected. Probably you need to find out why Chinese goods are so cheap. They use child labor, they have no protection for the employees and they don’t care about standards. If Sata says he is not impressed with the Chinese, try to find out why.

  61. #61 Mrs Capitalist I don’t think that’s a fair comment. People’s “comfy lives” in the diaspora may be due to the fact that they’ve left (in search of opportunity that doesn’t exist at home), got themselves some education and worked hard to get where they are. As for 600 jobs, put it this way – is the sovereignty of Zambia really worth so little that we have to kowtow whenever the Chinese snap their fingers? For a few breadcrumbs?

    Perhaps someone can show me where the true benefits of Chinese investment are – I don’t mean the fat people who supply the mines driving around in expensive cars stuffing their faces with steak, I mean the real benefits.

  62. HI guys,

    The thing is Sata is a seasoned politician. I am sure he will defend himself. You how nast Sata can be. So the language this short man used will attract fire. Just wait!

  63. For#31 What you people in the west are failing to understand, is that the relationship between Africa and China is that of a horse and rider, Africa been the horse, and when the journey is over, the rider will arrive clean (Chinese) and the horse will be tired becoz the thing which I enduring the pain is the horse….The Chinese are a very clever people with a large population. They go to African countries, with what I call cosmetic investment, what they do in Africa is not what they do in their own country .When you say they bring these million dollar investments we don’t see them, what we see is a one room with 80 Chinese people in it. That is the investment we are seeing in Zambia.

  64. I am enjoying the hot debate and am sure even the ambassador is having a good time. Emotions are high and to bring this to a conclusion I would suggest a televised debate between King cobra and the ambassador. I think the ambassador would sweat heavily.

  65. I agree some people are making racist comments though, that’s really not necessary. Even if there are some rare breeds eating dogs 😉

  66. Mr Capitalist

    I just couldn’t resist this one. It is amazing how you continue to convince me how dull and unlearned you are. I see you are not a man of letters and words. I did not ask you to withdraw your statement in my post in #55. You post in #60 has me lying on the floor and laughing out loud (LOL). I was just suspecting that you are a dull chap and wow you just proved it that actually you are dull!! The word unpack does not mean withdraw. Here is the english definition for it and the context I used it in

    Definition
    unpack verb (EXPLAIN)
    /?n?pæk/ v
    [T] to explain or to make a meaning clearer

    Good day my friend ..you have made my day. Awesome ..happy blogging ..nothing person it is just a blog ..end of the day we are all Zambians, love and peace

  67. I have to say there have been some very good exchanges on this thread so far…. Interesting reading.
    A few skirmishes as well…The big guns are out 🙂

  68. For #31 The Chinese are raping us, and using Sisters like that sister, to rape us and sell us to the Chinese, what does she know about Africa, when she comes she stays in a five star what does she know….told it was a Civil debate….he retariated and said its is not it is one sided, using voice of Ameriaca to sell Chinese……When asked whose fault is it, Sata replied I told you two years ago at Harvard, that becoz of this civilisation African country are raped left right and centre. The problem with Zambian leadership in parliament 98% came from unemployment. The kind of leadership we need in Zambia is of a two month old baby, that can wake up Mr Obama and Mrs Obama at two O’cklock in the morning.

  69. No regard for human rights where they come from.. what chance do my ZAMBIA have with these communist explorers?? Mr and Mrs Capitalists.. groups 3 in Class. No clue of the real deal on here!

  70. For #31The Chinese come and get our copper without refining it in Zambia and take it to China without leaving any money here, can you go to China and export something without leaving the money in China?…….Asked on why he did not correct this since he had been a leader in so many governments, he said everything he did had been washed away, the roads he built are a mess the jungle where the animals live is better than the roads we have today…..Asked about Tanzam Railway line, is that not development from Chinese, he said that thing is dormant, and the Chinese went back home with the spare parts. The Chinese got our money and left. People like you are using the voice of America to build China. Modern slavery is worse, people like you the enlightened people you who in America who are…

  71. we cant see it in Zambia, you very far away in America can see it…..Asked whether Taiwan is not China, and whether he was funded by Taiwan he argued and asked Shaka to prove that he was paid and who gave him the money and that Taiwan is not China….he then referred to Shaka as a black China man, you tell me you have the answer. The Chinese are very strong on propaganda and corruption, and are in Beijing smiling that now they have entered America.

    Sony Ericson I hope this will help you understand where the diplomat is coming from. It was indeed a very embarassing interview for a meaningful Zambian, the behaviour of our leader was below par.

  72. #75 True PF Cadre

    Thanks for the definition of “unpack” and I have taken note and I will also like to thank you for correcting my error.

    I will now respond in the manner expected, I will not unpack my statement because I am as clear with my statement as can be. Thank you and have a good day/night sir/madam.

  73. #80 thanks so much for that. I’ll have to get the video. However despite the unfortunate inarticulacy I do agree with his basic message

  74. I just wanted to find out from you fellow bloggers. Is Zambia as a nation better off without or with Sata in politics and in opposition? Consider this when answering this question. His political experiences, his open mindedness and the current state of affairs prevailing on the ground in Zambia. As an add on, would RB have informed us as a people that his wife was a ghost worker even when he was President and after serving as VP? Please be rational.

  75. #62 Dejavu. Very strong, knowledgeable points there. That said I am so pi.s.s.ed off right now. I’m Livid. How dare he refers to a black man as being of rare breed!.“‘unique Zambian politician of rare breed’”. How dare he insulst the bomb of a an African mother! on African soil and in the presence of our so called leaders. How dare!. I will not even say anything to our fellow black people on this blog who can even condone this without feelin even a pinch of hurt.That was a hurtful remark at the wrong place , time in in front of wrong people. In many Zambians eyes, Sata and the caller from Ethiopia are to some extent being vindicated.

  76. #43. You understanding issues is excellent. I like your contributions towards lusaka times. They are crystal clear and very meaningful. Cheers my brother

  77. Sata’s comments and stance will peril millions in this country. Zambians should be very careful with this I.D.I.O.T, he has received millions from Taiwan to rattle Beijing and should he win and they pack and go, the same Zambians who are cheering him today will all of a sudden find themselves unemployed and rise against him. It will by then be too late, Zambia will be Zimbabwe ruins. Mark my word, this is fire Sata is playing with, no Western country today has money to invest in a lousy place like Zambia and all we can do is make sure we create a framework for this China investment as opposed to allowing a clearly senile Nwacusa from Tanganyika to destroy our country.

  78. Sata should learn to address his complaints against the chinese with due respect otherwise if he thinks he is the only one who knows how to diss other races,he is mistaken.They can hit back and hit where it hurts most.Chinese know how appreciative Zambians are to their investiment and that’s why when they hear some old politician insult them daily they get surprised and they can’t think of him as an ordinary Zambian.They had to find another description for such and “unique rare breed” can’t describe him any better.This guy going by his age is suppose to know better how chinese have related with Zambia in the past but one wonders whats wrong with him.He is indeed a unique rare breed cuz Zambians are not like him.Criticise the chinese with due respect cuz chinese respect Zambians a lot.

  79. Mr Li should stop commenting on politics in Zambia and the opposition will be the next government. Where will he be? So keep you chinese ideas or thoughts to yourself. We do not need comments from bootlikers.

  80. If I were in Zambia I would have protested by now. This short man should not take us for granted. In china there is no democracy, they mudder people at will. They have muddered millions and millions of people. Who said chinese are our saviour? To hell with them. Do they built things for free? Dont we pay for their shoody work? Should the chinese Insult us in our own country? This Li has committed treason. He must be arrested. He wants to behalve as if he is another Mulongoti or shikawasha ….dumn it!!!!!

  81. In as much as I want Banda and MMD out, I think the option Sata has to offer is equal to his homeland = Hellish. Maybe its about time the MMD re-organised and removed Banda to replace him with someone visionary before this country is completely destroyed. All countries of the world, including the USA which owes China billions, are fighting for Chinese investment and I just wonder where Sata thinks he is going to find a replacement for Chinese investment especially with the current global economic woes. This is a classic Chama Chakomboka comedy of “I know where to find stones to resuscitate the economy but I will not say” except Sata wants to do a “Dag Hammarskjold” before deciding our telling us where to find funds to re-build. Scary “deja vu” resonance here brothers and sisters.

  82. When opinions are so polarised, the truth is compromised and objectivity is lost. Zambians please try to be aloof from politicians’ arguments so that neutral opinions can voice out objective facts on which to base sound decisions.

  83. I must also say I enjoyed this debate. And I leave by saying there are few politicians who unleash such vernomous comments -they are very rare.

  84. The ambassador called you Zambians rare species. Wow. And some of you guys are very proud to be called that. Probably he was right considering that we have people like Capitalist, Veteran, Sebuloni, Rupiah Banda, George Kunda, Shikapwasha, Mulongoti and other rare breeds that blog in favor of MMD even when they have seen the wrongs MMD have done.

  85. Yes if they think it’s rare to support Sata then they should look at the last election results. Or this blog. Maybe the ambassador thinks it’s like China where you just lock people up if they criticise the government or their friends

  86. Globalization is a necessary evil. Even if it is so, Zambians will not allow this kind of talk from these so called investors. besides, i dont think president Hu wil be very pleased to learn that a man he has sent to represent china is uttering such kind of racist remarks. RB should be very careful before its to late. He may be impeached soon.

  87. It’s my own people that think like #89 Dob that really tick me off more than the any perpetrator of racial slander directed at black people. It’s hard enough scolding at our own Zambian rush to serve people of other race in shops and restaurants in Zambia at the expense of a black person, calmly in line, but to find an educated one on a blog is disheartening.

  88. The problem with Zambian politics is that we have a lot of trashy celebrities. The Pact has lamentably failed to tackle the government on the performance of the economy. The economy has become a symbol of success for the MMD government. Coverage in the private media is so skewed and baised. The Chinese pledged investment of US$400 million in the Luanshya and the mine is fully operational, and similar investments have been made in Mazabuka. Inflation rate is coming down with a possibility that it will soon be a single digit. Kwacha is very stable against major currencies. What is the problem? The interbank rate was 120% in 1993, which is no longer case. Thanks to the blog sphere that has given us a wider range of truthful news.

  89. This comment from one great Sebuloni Kamutanda has made my day : “Sata’s toilet acrobatics on Voice of America left a very sour taste in my mouth. One honestly does not need to be a psychiatrist to see that something is clearly ammiss in Sata’s reasoning, his mental faculties seem incapable of any sustained length of traction. Going back to the days of Northern Rhodesia when he was still in the Northern Rhodesia Rifles, he was discharged from the force because of a mental breakdown (please ask Museba the former Commissioner of Police). Since then, he has never been the same, the man is half mad and on VOA last week, he was undoubtedly three-quarters mad! The trick seems to mention China to him, the degree of “masalamusi” in his skull sky rockets like a volcanic eruption.”

  90. This Chinese Ambassador (MMD carde) is in breach of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations Done at Vienna on 18 April 1961, which article 41 section 1 clearly states (please focus your attention on the second sentence)

    “Without prejudice to their privileges and immunities, it is the duty of all persons enjoying such
    privileges and immunities to respect the laws and regulations of the receiving State. They also have a
    duty not to interfere in the internal affairs of that State”.

    If a Zambian diplomat in China commited this offence he would be declared status non grata and recalled to Zambia. But now the impunity has been passed from Chinses briefcase businessmen to thier ambassador. Who is in charge here? We look forward to replacing MMD with PF/UPND in 2011.

  91. #89,I lived in China for close to ten years and always received better treatment from other nationals simply because of my nationality.You probably can’t feel that when you are in zambia but go to china as a “zambian” and you’ll experience what I mean.Contrally to many assertions from some people here that chinese look down upon blacks, a black brother in china is treated as a star! You can even have a chinese girl damp her chinese man for you!Yeah its that good down there!And don’t even cheat yourselves that chinese are suffering in their country so they’re looking for a good life in Zambia because the quality of life in china is far much better than is currently obtaining in Zambia.You guys in china on this blog be honest with your experiences in china.

  92. This description of being a “unique rare breed” should be extended to some bloggers here.I mean,how can a sane mind discard sound and well researched ideas propounded by a Harvard and Oxford scholar in preference to cynical rantings of a grade 7 former police constable?Hahahaha!!! I find this extremely laughable but this is what you expect from “unique rare breeds”!!

  93. Sata is NOT against sound Chinese investment.
    Sata is against bogus foreign investment in Zambia!
    He is against Chinese infestors, South African infestors and all the other blöödy infestors!
    Sata is against the exploitation of Zambian workers by these infestors!
    Sata doesn’t like to see Zambia continue being milked and räped by these infestors!
    Sata is against the SLAVERY that Zambian workers under these infestors are subjected to!
    Sata just wants the best deal for Zambia! Sata wants a fair share of the proceeds from the mines and not 90% of the profit externalized as is the case at the moment!
    Sata wants to see Zambia and Zambians develop! – Is that too much to ask?

  94. i have a question for the capitalist(a communist in disguise). do you think that a Zambian ambassador in China would be allowed to isssue such a statement about the opposition leaders in china? we all knoe the answer to that question.here are the facts for you who know very little about the chinese. read the “TIME MAGAZINE december 7 edition” there is an article about the many countries complaining about china.

    at the Ndola Stadiumm construction site, there are more chinese employees than Zambians, contractor almost bought cement from china, a chinese company making bricks in lusaka was forcing zambian workers to remove hot bricks with bare hands, chinese are giving chickens fertiliser to chickens so that they mature early. what else do you want to know about the chinese u…

  95. #104 stop twisting issues here! Ask those living in China if they have ever heard a chinese politician there speak ill of Zambia and Zambians the way this unique rare breed Zambian in the name of Sata has been doing to China.Sata is either very ignorant or just selfish.Remember how he promised to establish ties with Taiwan citing Malawi as one example of a country that has benefited from Taiwan relations.Less than a year later Malawi ditched Taiwan and are now pleading to establish ties with China cuz they realised their mistake.Now where was that going to leave Zambia if Sata had cut ties with China and established new ones with Taiwan?Taiwan itself can’t do without China and you get this guy telling u all these lies about china and praising Taiwan!He’s indeed a unique rare breed!

  96. he did not mention sata’s name so he cannot be pinned down on it. but we all know he is talking about that useless buffoon who has received money from taiwan and now speaks ill of people’s republic of china forgetting that Taiwan is also part of China and the people in taiwan are also chinese!! what second grade politician we have in sata

  97. THE United Party for National Development (UPND) says it supports the One China policy despite its alliance partner, the Patriotic Front, opposing it.

    UPND spokesperson Charles Kakoma said in an interview yesterday that there is no controversy over the One China policy because the whole world recognises it.
    “As UPND, we fully support the One China policy,” Mr Kakoma said.

    The One China policy states that the People’s Republic of China (PRC) is the sole legitimate government of mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan.

    However, the Patriotic Front (PF) through its president, Michael Sata, recognises Taiwan as a separate state from China.

  98. Li and Sata are both “knuckle heads” who need to learn some civility in their communication styles!!! Learn some diplomatic etiquette both of you—-for goodness sakes, you can agree to disagree without offending national sensibilities here!!

  99. #109, That’s what we all want and there’s no question about it BUT be informed that those are not Sata’s ideas.Well, if indeed Sata shares those nice views you have put up there,then believe he needs to be doing more writing and letting someone read what he writes on his behalf cuz when Sata speaks about Chinese investiment he doesn’t come out the way you want to portray him here.When it comes to a pep talk about foreign investiment,Sata s.u.c.k.s,period!!!Let him deligate such issues to HH while he concentrates on addressing issues he’s conversant with.

  100. All of you unique PF rare breeds, don’t be quick your insane xenophobic presido. That Chinese ambassador was just defending his country from the venomous lies smeared on Chinese investment on an international forum.

  101. gentlemen lets be realistic. This man has no right 2speak da way he did against a Zambian political leader cuz he is not a Zambian. Lets not be inferior as Zambian& tolerant 2anythng cuz we are directly benefiting fro them. Am puzzled some are accepting such nonsense, mule kwata amano guyz

  102. Iwee ka Choncholi, you will see in 2011. I hope you will register as voters as well to keep RB in plot 1, otherwise, kaya!

  103. Sata is very undiplomatic and this is why he will never win as president of Zambia. What he would have been doing is to embrace the Chinese and then negotiate for better condition if he becomes president ( Which he will never be) You can never do away with Chinese investment, even Obama was in China recently negotiating joint investments. But i dont get disturbed with Sata’s behaviour, the man does not understand local and international economics. This is why we need young people like HH to rule our country. Come on guys, lets no longer trust these grandpas, the have self motives.

  104. Just the other day a deputy minister in mmd complained about chiness constructions in northern province, no chinese died in the chimbishi disaster, at ndola stadium our people use pit latrine while chinese use wc toilets, sometime ago a zambian was beaten by a chinese for catching a nap during his lunch hour. Indeed zambians ve a short memory and now kulamituka fye kuli utu tubantu. What sata is saying is that they should bring the best aloso to our country and treat our people with decencey please.
    ZWA KA AMBASSADOR

  105. Zambia needs China. Sata needs China.

    If Sata became president, which is unlikely, seeing he depends on the PACT to work, he will go to China to tell them how much Zambia needs them and that if China pulled out of Zambia, the country will collapse.

    Anyway, unless the PACT works, Sata will not be president come 2011, and certainly not beyond that due to his age.

  106. no matter how wrong Sata is to us my fellow country men Zambia is his country and has the right to comment.I challenge our representing Ambassador to China to issue the same statements in China.I am sure he will never step there again.

  107. Forgive the ambassador. Chizungu chivuta . Could it be that the fellaz are sponsored by the MMD to puke nonsense.
    Again look at the Headline.” Zambia: CHINESE Ambassador to Zambia slams opposition politicians” then also read on …..somewhere in the text it is writen “CHINESE Ambassador to Zambia Li Qiangmin has described as denial, ill-motivated, loss of sight and vision for SOME politicians to attack Chinese investment”. Now in this text surely not all opposition politicians are slammed as purported by Times of Zambia. Only SOME are slammed.
    Its in the way SOME journalists choose to Head their stories. Was this meant to cause a public out cry against chineese investiment? Sata only critisizes ill mannered Tuntemba so called chineese investors.

    Times get real

  108. The truth is that some Chinese investments, especially those done by private Chinese investors are the ones that tend to be problematic in meeting Zambia’s labour laws. For me that is not adequate to generalise Chinese investment. In fact, its got more to do with poor leadership and weak labour law enforcement capacity.

  109. Ka choncholi kalasa ama IYA, IYA!!! You killed my Teacher, lets fight! iya, iya!!

    For sure as well as we appreciate that MCS is a QUACK, let him only be insulted by Zambians. Now to be insulted in Chinese is purely bringing back Colonial Hang overs torwards xmas. This is the biggest insult to come to Zambia.

  110. Latest:
    Ford agrees Volvo sale to Geely
    Volvo has been for sale for months
    Ford has agreed the terms of the sale of its Swedish business, Volvo Cars, to China’s Geely.
    In a statement Ford said “while some work still remains to be completed…[they] anticipate a definitive sale agreement in the first quarter”.
    Ford put Volvo up for sale a year ago to help pay off its debt and make its business more focused.
    Geely was named preferred bidder in November. If completed, it will be the largest purchase by a Chinese car firm.

    What’s your take you antichina pundits? Don’t blame China! Blame your laws and regulations which are in themselves archaic. China has penetrated the most developed of economies and the biggest democracies! Who in this world is not trading with them?

  111. 108 Dob,

    The Havard you are holding in high esteem here only last year invited non other that Michael Chilufya Sata to give an address on China in Africa. Coincidence or what? Grade 7 or not, Havard recognises him.

  112. #124, You are right journalists play around with words in their reporting. However, its an undeniable fact that Sata generalizes his hate and lack of recognition of the Chinese Investment. I don’t buy that point that he is selective on which Chinese he hates. Moreover, I’ve attended his rallies where he adamantly threatens to chase ALL Chinese pips in Zambia once in power and bring investors from Taiwan!

  113. #122,Our Zambian Ambassador won’t have a basis to pass such comments on a Chinese politician in China cuz no Chinese politician will ever talk ill of Zambia and Zambians.Believe me on this one.

  114. 111 Dob,

    I am nopt twising anything, I am just putting fact to fact. Chinese Ambassador is in breach as I have stated in my 1-4 posting. What have I twisted? Have you not heard of the act I have posted? I suppose not. Look it up

    Whatever Sata’s sytance is on Tianwan etc is irrelvant. READ the Geneva protocal at

    h t t p : / / untreaty.un.org /ilc /texts /instruments /english /conventions/9_1_1961.pdf

    I have just copied and pasted, not twisted anything

  115. How many Chinese nationals died in Bilgrim explosion? Were there no Chinese workers? Miners working barefooted underground is very good and normal for some of us—eh

  116. Dob,

    whenever you watch TV and see diplomats being swarn in by RB, have you ever read the oath they take? That ALL diplomats take? It includes upholding the Gevena Charter I have mentioned here, you definately donty know that. No wonder

  117. Li Qiangmin , I order you to tone down before we make your life difficult in this country. If you read the blog, I implore you to tone down. Read the mood of the Zambian people. Zambians are not stupid.
    We have received so many Chineese ambassadors and I can assure you that you are not the first and last. Iam only hoping Times did not just twist your words. Its their trademark anyways. Thats why I am reserved otherwise, you would not have had it easy.
    Zambians did not have chineese construction of any kind free neither will we have those so called economic Zones free. No no no. Its bilateral and hence china stands to benefit as well. Nothing is free in the world. Chineese employers are well known for cheap labour, slave wages and inhuman treatment of workers. Prove us wrong!

  118. #128,Yes I’m aware that Harvard invited Sata because in as far as being against the Chinese investiment is concerned, our Sata stands out on the African continent! It’s good we don’t have access to his lecture notes he delivered at Harvard cuz going by his VOA interview its better we just keep it at that level that ‘Sata delivered a lecture at Harvard’.

  119. Ssshhh!!! You should be Sata’s spokesperson then, coz your leader could not bring himself to actually articulate a solid argument on his position on the Chinese on VOA. Unfortunately you are not his spokesperson, we can only rely on what was said from the horses mouth, and in conclusion, out of respect for his age, I will say it was a load of nonsense coming from an old man.Sata could actually save face, by coming out to apologise, on alarming the world, and clarifying his argument. As it stands now, my dear, based on that recent behaviour, to say he is of a rare breed, is an understatement. Am still recovering from the shock of that interview, I am at a loss of words.

  120. #136., Dob
    I agree with you on your statement. I do not think I personally have the stomach to entertain any more of that embarrassing junk we heard on VOA.

  121. #133,If as Zambia we had an ambassador in some country where Zambia & Zambians are constantly attacked and smeared with all the filth and that ambassador elects to keep quite then such an ambassador is a fool.Just last week Watchdog ran a story of a Zambian Ambassador somewhere in Europe who wrote a complaint to some magazine editor and his complaint was about Zambia being described as some “unknown african nation”.Now this is what an ambassador is expected to do- protect the image of the country him or she represents.

  122. #120, REMINDER :

    Let me remind you that exploitation of man by man is not unique to China-Zambia investments only. It is a universal problem. However, it is a responsibility of the host govts to make sure that their people are not abused and exploited by whoever the investor is.

    If Zambians are being short-changed in any way, shape, or form, it is the Zambian govt’s duty to put a stop to it. Where are the MPs, Ministers, even Trade Unions, charged with the mandate of looking after these workers’ interests? If there is anyone to blame for this, these are the culprits. Investors will always look for ways to maximize their profits, this is done the world over (unfortunately), but it is the govt’s responsibility to make sure the people they represent gets a better deal!!

  123. #139YAMBAYAMBA

    I agree with you totally but look at the fora your ambassodor is speaking from? What do you ve to say about that because the culprits are right there listerning and do nothing about it because they are compromised. The union too has no teeth so what do you want us to do? Just sit back and pretend that things are okey????

  124. MWAPYA NAISA!!!! NGA NAISULA AKANWA TAMWANSOLE. ELO EWE CHINESE ULI NOKUCHIMONA THERE IS NO CORNER I DONT KNOW IN THIS NATION.

  125. 129 Zambian Politician of Rare Breed
    I personally do’nt think SATA would unanimously chase the chineese when he comes in power. I am ,however, alive to the fact that at campaign time a politician will say things that appeal to the electorate. I entirely acknowledge how mean the outspoken PF leader can be. I ultimately think that he is a great man too.
    I honestly don’t think that all chineese investiment unhealthy. There are also a few bad apples. Understanding the massive investiment the chineese people have brought to africa, we are also aware of the negativitism attributed to exploitation of the poor even in their own country. Safety to them is a none starter. Let them adhere to our labour laws if we have some. Sata is simply great. Let the chineese change. Now they are politicking.

  126. I don’t know how our political atmosphere would have been if Michael Chilufya Sata was not in existance. Atleast he speaks, and what he says raises people’s interests. Some get pocked while others se sense in some of his comments. I know one thing for sure is that he balances the Zambian political equation.

  127. Some of you have very little idea on the chinese economic policy for africa. Ask yourselves this question. How will Zambia be after 20years of working with the chinese; will they have really helped built the Zambian economy or they will leave umburried holes on the ground from which they are mining our minerals? Just 20yrs from now, you won’t wish to go back to Zambia if you are in the diaspora. I can bet you.

  128. Imwe bafigili ngoyu chochos ninshi alelandila pama politics? Kudelela uku nomba ka! The i d i o t has no respect. Kick him out.

  129. #141, REMINDER:

    You don’t have to pretend anything. Neither do you have to pretend that Zambia does not need Chines investments. That is myopic on your part if you think that. Are there ways this investor-recipient relationship can be improved, the answer is YES!!! But it is ridiculous and unworthy of a states man to pretend otherwise.

    My point is, just because you have an inept leadership that has failed Zambians does not make investments from China bad. The way Sata engages on this score is not helpful to anyone. I can bet my foot on this, if Sata were to become President today, he will be barging the same Chines he his insulting today to stay. Now, why can’t he just constructively engage them!!

    Read my post in @114 for your other pa!

  130. #147.
    Labour laws are violated everywhere, even among non-Chinese investors. In fact even Zambian “investors” themselves abrogate these laws and subject their very own people in inhumane conditions. I have seen this with my very own eyes. So to take this universal issue and blame it solely on the Chinese to gain political mileage is not only unfair and inconsequential, but also very selfish. The underlying issue that Sata should be preaching is how he intends to strengthen our labour laws and ensure stricter adherence to these laws if he comes in power. Not his usual xenophobic threats of chasing the Chinese!

  131. Hmmmm kamo this is silly. Honestly how can we allow a choncoli to comment on our opposition parties. It all goes to show how much horsey we Zambians have become. I fully support Sata’s sentiments with regard to Chinese fellas and there presence in this country. Did you know that no Zambian ambassador would ever be allowed to make such comments in China? Chinese fellas as long as we continue treating them with soft gloves will become worse. I am in full support of total regulation when it comes to foreign investments. We should define the dos and donts for the Chinese otherwise very soon Zambia will become a chinese province.

  132. Sata wants Zambia to have diplomatic relations with Taiwan but what he forgets is that officially Taiwan is still a part of the Peoples Republic of China and to the Chinese government this is a very serious and sensitive issue. But Sata went to Malawi to get some funding from his Taiwan connections and there was even a time when he was found with a substantial amount of US dollar notes at a South African airport apparently from Taiwan. So you can see that his obsession with anti Chinese rhetoric is all for self gain. We will hear more from his former secretary general Mumbi.

  133. Well what if this ‘unique Zambian politician of rare breed’
    -holds the key to Zambian development
    – is truly Zambian
    -knows where oil lies idle in Zambia
    -will develop a Zambian nuke
    -will transform LSK to NY
    -understands where we went wrong as a country
    -will help zambia win african soccer cup trophy
    -will help Zambia build it ever Automobile
    -realises that we did not inherit Zambia from our forefathers rather we borrowed it from our children and we want to give it back to then intact
    -will reign to please every zambian
    – will only reason with reasonable chineese
    – will truly put Zambia on the world map
    – will enable Zambia host and win the world cup

    The bottom line is, he is a proud unique zambian with an indigenous gene

  134. Sata is not in breach of any laws/treaties by supporting Tianwan, or talking against China.

    The anbassador is in breach of the 1961 Geneva treaty (Atricle 47.1). He is meant to be censored by the state, as was the case with the Italian Ambassador to Zambia a few years ago

  135. Bottom line is: The Chinese don’t make our labour laws, they don’t make our investiment regulations, they don’t run our trade unions, they don’t send bills to our parliament (is George Kunda chinese?), they don’t run our Bureau of Standards, they don’t run our Police or Customs, they don’t run our schools or hospitals, etc, etc. In the end what we get is the Chinese (and any investor for that matter) that we deserve (according to your own specifications). WHY should it be the fault of the CHINESE?

  136. Foe me if this was a Zambain ambassador surporting zambian efforts i would be ecstatic. The question of China is one on which we need to tread carefully, we need them and they need us. The question is How can Zambia maximise benefits at minimal cost?. By being so critical and cautious we risk remaining where we are as one of the worlds poorest countries. . Everyone wants to engane the Chinese becuase they are a major economis power, actually the second biggest economy anf they are the healthiest.

  137. 140 Dob,

    Writing the article in a magazine is not in any way a diplomatic breach, please read and reflect the Treaty, then try to see where it is applicable. The Zambian in Europe, or the Chinses in Zambia. Tell us what you think, but only after reading the treaty and why.

  138. Chinese ambassador can not even say he is not aware becuase he swore an oath the the Zambian people and his county (when being sworn in by the zambian president) to uphold the treaty. So he is in full knowledge that he is taking the p*ss out of 12 million Zambians, knowning he is un touchable under the current regime

  139. Watching the young lady Dambisa Moyo on CNN,BBC and other international media makes me feel proud to be Zambian but this old man on VOA really embarassed us big time.Chamusebanya sana bane pantu umufyashi ewaya cita icamusebanya pabwelu ngamwebana kuti mwaumfwa shani?Tatwishibe nomwakucisengulwila nomba.

  140. 166 Dod,

    You obviously dont know how the media works do you? Dambisa’s book “Dead Aid” is a way selling western propaganga. They have always said that they dont want to give us any more aid because we waste it. So they get one of our own to say we watse it indeed. They will do thier best to make her look good. Did you read what the Nigerians had to say about her? Or even the Ghanian president? I suppose not because the west did not give any counter ideas the same platform. Devide and rule. Get one of thier own to turn againt them. Sata stand for Zambians

  141. #165,Man,u need to tread softly when u start getting into numbers.Haven’t u heard of chinese leaders complaining about some foreign leader as having ‘injured the feelings of the 1.4billion chinese’???????Be careful man cuz I don’t know what u will be if u ‘annoy’ 1,400,000,000,000 people!!!

  142. 128 Dod,

    Regardless of the number of Chinese in the world. Rules are rules, are you saying we should be threatened and not talk about thier trasgressions because they out number us? They break our labour laws and go scott free, they break industrial laws and go scott free. they are now breaking international treaties. So the 1,400,000,000,000 chinese risk getting ‘annoyed’ if they dont follow rules. Thank good nes they dont vote in zambia.

    I have not heard about chinese leaders complaints, tell me where. If it is Zambia then it is for the above reasons Zambian are merely reacting

  143. An Ambassodor uttering such.. sure imwe???, next kumi ruli’nga, ninshi chashupa, cry motherland, merry xmass bbonse —

  144. Ba Sata bena bakoopo sana. Sata is a Quack. He deserve all these insults on the blog. Whether for or against Sata is the real man for these INSULTS.

  145. If Labour laws are not respected, are we then going to just see people violet them? Again No no no no far from it. We are a democratic country following the rule of law. We cannot call ourselves principled then.
    We are alive to the fact that we know that there is a bible, yet people sin. Are people of God going to be quiet about sinning No no no. Lets get real gentlemen.
    We’ve made rules in our homes, we surely don’t let culprits get away with it. In no time, if they don’t abide let alone listen, we kick the fellaz out. Thats the way it is.
    Chineez fellaz are not allegic to change. We can tame them and make them reaspet the laws of the land. Woe to MMD chaps who just bootlick chineese trash. They are unable to distinquish real investiment from bad ones. We saw on TV when one…

  146. #167,I have videos of Dambisa being ‘grilled’ on BBC,CNN and other major western media u talking about.I don’t think they have treated her views with kid gloves,if anything they have tried so hard to discredit her ideas.Well,atleast from the scripts of interviews I have and have watched.And don’t make me laugh by quoting what Nigerians say about her.Man what do u expect Nigerians to say about someone who is against ‘free money’ coming to Africa?I don’t expect an african president to support Dambisa’s ideas cuz they have failed their people despite receiving this aid for decades so that Ghanian presido can be.Ok I still can’t stop laughing at the mention of Nigerians as being opposed to Dambisa’s idea of cutting aid!!!! Man, ru serious u expected Nigerians to be happy with such…

  147. TRUE Pf cadre , watever u ko yoself, i think you very shallow in thing plus u think a kebova, Koboni manners like yo leader, enemies of progress like the devil, u shud educate yo self on matters than show yo stinking thots on the net.

  148. Cont.
    chineese lashed out with no respect at some minister let alone when one kachoncholi unleashed a dog on a Zambian.

  149. 174 dod,

    Are you not aware that Nigeria does not get ‘aid’? You just rushed to the colclusion that because they have a bad reputaion they are not credible. They have oil exports that generate them enough income. They feel for the other afican countries not thier own

  150. Right on #162 Nkhosi! Sank you wery much!! Well put!!! Get a life people!! And starting thinking positive development and put your house in order! We the Chinese people can give you the best of both worlds! We can give you the top of the range products or service and we can also give you sub-standard product or service. It depends on the laws in your country and how much you wanna pay!! And hey, don’t mix politics with economic developments! Lol!

  151. #169,Chinese leaders often complain whenever some foreign leader talk about the Taiwan issue and they also complain about continued attacks on the human rights record by other world leaders.The issue of Delai Lama(sp) is another issue they often complain about.They have never complained about Zambia cuz Zambia and China enjoys very good relations and we want to keep it that way.

    I mentioned the 1.2bn people because u started talking about the 12million zambians otherwise my point was that there’s no need to bring in the population of these two countries in our debates.

  152. S-tu-pi-d , rich, arrogant or not, a visitor must respect the rules set in a home other wise, he will disrespect even where you sleep. Leave investiments out of politics. Are we still campaigning? Huh!!!!

  153. 179 Dob,

    The human right statements made against china re not made by any single abassador accredited to china, but by leaders in thier ornw countires (eg. Angela in Germany or Tony in UK). NEVER by the respevive ambassadors. If Li has a problem, let him tell his evivalent of forign minister who will tell Hu and Hu will tell RB. Not Li to attack Sata. Lupando (recalled) in China can not talk anout Hu or any other Chinese leader (opposition or not). That is how diplomatic etiquite works! It has been inscribed since 1961

  154. WELL in china no one says anything about their govt so really they can’t handle criticism but anyway while I get where the anger is coming from still the bottom line is that as an ambassador u just have to follow certain code of conduct. If the government from beijing has the liberty to make such comments if they wished because they are not in diplomatic service…. that said Zambian politics …yaba i don’t even know whos arguing for sata or RB it’s like trying to choose between two broken down vehicles..they won’t take u anywhere at the end of they day they are both broken down

  155. #177 man ur cracking me up here! Ati Nigerians just feel for who??lol!! man I didn’t expect u to say such.I’m not surprised that Nigeria don’t receive any aid,I mean who would trust a Nigerian signature on those multi-million dollar agreements other nations sign?Awe bako serious man, ati Nigerians just feel for other africans?Do you know how many africans and Zambians in particular have been swindled out of their hard-earned cash by Nigerians?And it’s not like Nigerians just have a “bad reputation”, fact is Nigerians are bad!They don’t even have that bad reputation you’re giving them,they simply have no reputation at all- not even the bad one!

  156. The relationship between china and Zambia is business..thats so. It should be win – win situation. But it seems china wants to make herself the boss. The chinese want to violate labour laws and regulations at will. And now they have the audacity to insult us coz our leaders are too comprised with nhekeleko. Zambia has become fully dependent on china and soon china will clonize Zambia. Why cant we think in our own way? Why cant we develop our own economic plan than always looking to china or the west to shinda on us? I CANT REALLY STOMACH IT ……a chines insulting Zambians.??????????????

  157. Bwafya bane, wiso ni wiso, nagu lishilu, olo chipuba, olo chiwelewele, kufwilapofye kaili ni wiso, apa I have seen that bengi abana bakwa sata. Butti mukati mumitima na beshiba atti wishi wabo lishilu, chipuba elo chi welele.

  158. 184 dod,

    Libya, Egypt and RSA are also againts Dambisa’s notion. Not only Nigeria and Ghana. These countries dont need aid. Nigeria or not, dishonest or whatever. The bottom line is that Africa has not embraced Dambisa’s ideas that the west are peddling.

    Libya is still dishing out millions to African countries, RSA is helping the Zim situation. So take Nigeria out of the picure. but its all propaganda

  159. #181, Don’t be cheated that Lupando differed with Beijing.The Chinese had no problem with him.If anything our Zambian diplomats are docile cuz they don’t talk loud enough to even make headlines like others do.

  160. 188 Dob,

    I am not saying Lupanda differed with china. I am saying accredited diplomats do not meddle with internal affairs, period! have you or have ou not read the treaty please answer that

  161. Dod,

    As long as you have not read the treaty you will not see that Zambia has been violated. There is a breach, even if Li praised Sata its still a breach of etiquate.

  162. #191 Man,its not like I don’t want to read the Treaty but its bcoz certain things like Treaties make boring reading to me.I will find time to read it but I doubt if I can do it today cuz soon some chic will be coming to my room and if she finds me reading aome Viena Convetion Treaty she will be freaked out!

  163. 192 dod,

    If you find reading the treart boring, then dont comment until you have gained an interest in it and read it. Otherwise you will continue to show your ingnorance on the matter at hand, anyway now we know we are dealing with one less enlightened hense the rantings.

    Enjoy you day with the chic.

  164. The ambassador has noted very well regarding sentiments that com from the opposition politicians.To be more specific Mr. Sata lacks international diplomacy.I wonder if He has served in foreign missions in his political LIFE.Also siting His recent comments on the VOA live interview with Mr.Shaka Sali.He needs to be guided on issues that concerns foreign policy.He embarrassment to the nation as to the breed of aspiring Presidency.For presidency is not Cheap.

  165. #193,I or indeed other bloggers here don’t need to read your Treaties as a condition before commenting on this issue.If anything only a d.u.m.b person would want to read some viena treaty in order to understand the article above but no offense,if your reading the treaty makes u feel ‘enlightened’ then thats all good.

  166. #195 Dob:
    You need the knowledge of this treary to understand the breach. For example, you need to know about the rules of football in order to understand the Thierry Henri handball saga. You, therefore, cannot talk about this BREACH if you don’t understand or have not read or know the rules and oaths that govern international and diplomatic ties. Just as laws (constitutions) are applied to understand court cases

  167. Slowly GRZ and Zambians will have no voice because of the so called Chinese investment. They are even going to hang your fellow Zambian in China. But alas, it’s all in the name of investment that fellow Zambians are using the bush instead of toilets at the new Ndola stadium site. But what can you say and do as GRZ? Maybe the only solution is to go and take a quiet nap in Mfuwe without disturbances from displaced monkeys.

  168. $700m,$150m are numbers picked from the air,the point is you(Chinese)are renown for mediocre treatment of humans and besides why should we care about you?yes indeed Mr.Li the amount of Copper you are stealing is not even worth those figures.what we want to know is how would you trade with Zambia if we started making the copper wiring for tranformers,dynamos and all other things you make cheaply and send to the west,i don;t think it would be a sweet sight..

  169. When British and American diplomats comment on local issues, the rabid dogs in the MMD go barking wildly but when Chinese diplomats vomit rubbish, it is OK. Mwanya ba fintu!

  170. It says in Bemba that “umweni uwakokola asanguka umkaya” simply a visitor who stays longer becomes a citizen, or umweni takokota mwifupa ninshi uko afuma amina ayatuntulu” . how can a foreingner know who is the correct breed of zambian politics? ofcourse Sata is a rare breed, but it doesn`t mean that what he is asking about is not necessary. Otherwise the way Chinise are hard working people but they have a lot of weaknesses in safety measures, even in there own country. and mind you the climate change summit in Denmark failed because much contraversy from mainly the Chines, accoding to the world reports.

  171. Here are some simple facts: Chinese reserves = US$2 trillion, Zambian Reserves = US$1.7 billion. Is the PF UPND Pact sure about messing with the Chinese Government? The problem with the pact is that they are more obsessed with having a bantubotatwe President than having a buoyant economy. Does Willie Nsanda understand the meaning of GDP or macro economics?

  172. the problem with the chinise invester is the quality of goods they offer zambians , here inthe west goods from china are of a very high quality , not those they bring to zambia, in fact the chinise may have different factories for countries, the poor ones sent to zambia also the pays for the westerners differs with zambian pays and working conditions

  173. That Chinese official was wrong to comment on local politics.I dont know what will happen to our ambassador in China if he criticized the communist party of china about their poor human rights situation.

  174. Kalos2020 – I would rather be dead first before I blog for the MMD. Seave the blog for all my contributions and you will see none is for the MMD. Unless you mean genuine Sata bashing equals blogging for the MMD. Most people here just hear of Sata, I know him well because I worked with him at the Ministry of Health and I can attest to the fact that the man is a lunatic. Like one blogger here stated, Zambia is between a hard and harder place, and I like his analogue of being faced with two broken down cars because ultimately, none will take you anywhere. That’s the case with Sata and Bwezani, catch 22, period!

  175. #199 When Rhodesia declared UDI we went West asking for help to build a railway line to the East Coast. The West said it was impossible. We went East and China built Tazara on the same terrain. For years Tazara has been the epitome of Chinese investment in Africa. Currently, the world’s most powerful economy is heavily indebted to China. Mr. Sata has miscalculated big time – he cannot make a turn around and expect people to understand. What we need to work on is to ensure that the Chinese adhere to our Labor Laws. If the Chinese are bringing in laborers then that’s our problem because every foreigner needs a work permit – who gives work permits? It is not the Chinese. When Chambishi blew up, LPM who was already on the CB jumped on a plane and flew to Lusaka – never visited disaster area.

  176. Mr. Sata supports Taiwan – this a serious policy standpoint and has nothing to do with poor Chinese labor behavior. The Chinese Ambassador’s language is the strongest I have ever heard from a Diplomat. Clearly, the Ambassador is fed up with Mr. Sata’s belittling of a world economic power. This is so embarrassing. I am waiting to hear Mr. Sata’s response. To question what would happen if a zambian diplomat uttered the same words in China is just misplaced – we are inconsequential in China or any developed country — everybody would just expel our diplomat — sad reality. However, in our country we can at least ensure that our labor laws are respected.

  177. one word for the Chinese man. Go to He LL and do not comment on Zambian politics. Zambia is ours not yours. We do not comment on the many things you do in China! Atase!

  178. ” CHINESE Ambassador to Zambia Li Qiangmin has described as denial, ill-motivated, loss of sight and vision for some politicians to attack Chinese investment. ”

    I guess the ambassador hasn’t quite caught on to the whole ‘democracy thing’.

    The problem is mr. Ambassador, that if you make deals with the Zambian government that amply reward the Zambian people and state, you don’t have to worry about a new government coming in.

    Zambia needs to start collecting $1.2 billion in taxes from the mines every year, and no one should even dare intervene.

  179. I recall not too long ago VJ jumping into the fray and attacking Diplomatic who wee commenting on local political issues. I wait with baited breath to hear him denounce the Chinese Ambassador to Zambia’s blatant disregard of Diplomatic etiquette the VJ so profusely appeared to promulgate then.

  180. Above post should have read: I recall not too long ago VJ jumping into the fray and attacking Diplomats who were commenting on local political issues. I wait with baited breath to hear him denounce the Chinese Ambassador to Zambia’s blatant disregard of Diplomatic etiquette VJ so profusely appeared to promulgate then. Or iis it a case of double standards we have all grown so familiar with in the MMD government?

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