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âImaginaryâ Chinese Investment to Zambia Questioned

   Peter Clottey 11 May 2010

   The leader of Zambiaâs main opposition Patriotic Front (PF) party says
   the  governmentâs  announcement  of a $1 billion Chinese investment to
   help  build  an  electric power plant is a âcheaply conceivedâ ploy to
   garner votes ahead of next yearâs general elections.

AFP Photo

   Zambia's main opposition leader, Michael Sata

   Michael  Sata  questions  the  timing of the announcement saying it is
   âpremature  and  presumptuousâ  for the government to make such claims
   when negotiations with a Chinese Bank to finance the project are still
   ongoing.

   âThe  whole point is any investment of any magnitude is welcome in any
   developing country or even in a developed country. But, the reality is
   where are they building this plant? Because we (the) people in Zambia,
   we  donât  know  and  our  electricity  tariffs are the highest in the
   region.  So,  we donât know where they are building it. Probably, they
   are building it in heaven or in hell,â he said.

   President  Rupiah  Bandaâs  government  announced  that China plans to
   spend  $1  billion  to  help  build  a  power  plant to boost Zambia's
   electricity supply by 600 megawatts.

   An  official  said  the  China  Development  Bank  will provide equity
   amounting  to  $1  billion  for  the Kafue Gorge Lower power plant.The
   government says the Kafue Gorge Lower power plant will cost about $1.5
   billion.

   But,  opposition  leader  Sata  said  the  governmentâs  plan  is  not
   pragmatic.

   âThose  are  wishful  thinking,  and  what  they  are  doing that is a
   political  campaign.  We have adequate facilities at the Zambezi River
   and  the  Kafue River. We donât need a need a new Chinese plant. If we
   wanted  to  expand our existing facilitiesâ¦we could extend those, but
   they  are using that for general elections next year. There is nothing
   realistic,â Sata said.

AFP Photo

   Zambia's President Rupiah Banda

   Local  media  quoted  Energy  minister  Kenneth  Konga  as  saying the
   government  is  seeking to wrap up negotiations with a Chinese bank to
   ensure that the electricity project will begin as originally planned.

   Opposition  leader  Sata  has  often  been  accused  of showing hatred
   towards  Chinese  investors.  He was recently quoted as saying Chinese
   and  other  Asian  mining  firms  in Zambia are creating âslave laborâ
   conditions  in  Africaâs  top  copper  producer  with scant regard for
   safety or local culture - - charges Sata denies.

   âThe point is I have not condemned any investment worth talking about,
   but  imaginary investment. And, we donât want human investment we have
   enough  human  beings  in  Zambia;  artisans and ordinary laborers. We
   donât  need  Chinese  laborers  to  come  to  Zambia  and to call that
   investmentâ¦I have nothing against the Chinese, but they must the must
   be realistic and they must be honest and sincere,â Sata said.

   Analysts  say  construction  of  the electricity plant is scheduled to
   begin next year, and possibly completed in 2017.

   But, opposition leader Sata dismissed the assessment.

   âFirst  of  all, $1 billion is a lot of money. If it is (a) $1 billion
   project,  where  are  they  building  this project? How do you build a
   project  of $1 billion without feasibility studies? How do you build a
   project  of  $1  billion  without showing the site where this thing is
   going to be?â Sata asked.

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