ELA-Zambia on Chinese in Zambia

Zambia: Free Country or Chinese Colony? A Crown Jewel in the Chinese Colonial Empire!

By Mainda Simataa | ELA General Secretary’s Comment on Chinese Imperialism and Exploitation in Zambia | Lusaka, Zambia | 20 December 2017 |

“He who feeds you Controls you” – Thomas Sankara
The recent audacious and unprecedented attempt by the Chinese imperialist State to infiltrate and superimpose Chinese nationals as Police officers in the Zambia Police high command, has cast a new light on how far and wide the net of Chinese neo-colonial agenda has been cast over Africa, and our nation Zambia in particular. The Chinese are hell-bent on using every trick and tactic to infiltrate all spheres of power and influence so that they can capture, control and exploit our nation’s bountiful natural resources, abundant cheap labour, and all; just for the enrichment and glory of China!
And although the appointment of the Chinese cops has been verbally rescinded by the Police’s Public Relations officer barely 48 hours after their induction; this single dastardly act shows beyond all reasonable doubt that the Chinese have surely carried out State Capture on the Zambian government and the Political leadership of Zambia’s most corrupt ruling Party – the Patriotic Front (PF)! As things stand, China has an undeniable and unassailable influence over the Zambian government…and of course, the Zambia Police, as we, and the world now knows!

Chinese Imperialism is upon us!
Imperialism is a policy of extending a country’s power and influence through military, financial, economic, political, and other means. In this sense, China’s influence and interference in Zambia’s national affairs squarely qualifies them to be a first class imperialist power in Zambia today.
Militarily, it is no secret that China has been financing and supplying the Zambia Air Force (ZAF) with war gear – Jet fighters, fighter simulators, and helicopters; all of which, like most Chinese products, have a notorious record of crashing and claiming lives! Given such a holistic influence by China on Zambia, it will not come as a shock that after Djibouti, the next African country where China establishes an overseas military base is Zambia! If the local political puppets of the Chinese can allow China room in our Police Forces, then allocating them land for a military base will not be an issue at all. More than in any other African country, China has the most to lose in Zambia, and therefore, a vested interest to protect in Zambia by all means necessary!

Highly Indebted to China
Financially speaking, Zambia owes China huge debts that we, nor future Zambian generations to come will not afford to pay back. These chocking debts have come as a result of reckless borrowing by the Chinese-captured PF government of President Edgar Lungu which borrows for its own pockets, but in the name of national infrastructure development. To add insult to injury, all those development contracts are awarded back to Chinese contracting companies, and a few token businesses owned by or friendly to the regime! In the end, the Chinese make all the big money, and the poor masses remain indebted to China.

Economically Dominated by China
Economically, the Chinese have invested in every conceivable business – from rearing chickens and pigs, to growing vegetables and running casinos and gambling machines in the compounds! On a big scale, they have dominated public construction projects and electronics hands down! Over 90% of all infrastructure projects taking place in Zambia; from roads, rails, hospitals, schools, airports etc. are all dominated by Chinese, with Zambians workers supplying the much needed slave labour! In agriculture, the Chinese have been given huge tracts of land for farming, housing and industrial complexes. And as usual, Zambians who are unable to compete with Chinese close up their small gardens and groceries, and end up working as slaves for the mega Chinese farms and corporations. In trade, manufacturing and equipment supply, the China man is everywhere dominating, growing, and pushing Zambians to the fringes of abject poverty!

Zambia: A Crown Jewel in the Chinese Colonial Empire
In this age of neo-colonialism, Zambia has, to all ends and purposes, become to the emerging Chinese empire what India was to the old British Empire – a precious Crown Jewel and the pride and symbol of the success of British colonialism. Therefore, Zambia is to China, undeniably a symbol of successful conquest of a resource-rich African country, and the capture of its gullible and greedy political leadership, along with a huge share of its markets and cheap labour. With the continued growth and expansion of China on the global political and economic playing field, Zambia will witness not less, but more and more of Chinese dead-aid, political control, oppression, and irritation; until finally these irritations culminate into an all-out popular revolt against the Chinese and their hired political minions in government!

The Liberation task facing the Zambian People – a history of Continued Struggle
Historically, our people were once slaves and serfs of British brutality under the colonial empire. Our forefathers and freedom fighters then united and stood together with the common purpose of overthrowing British tyranny, and eventually winning freedom in 1964. But only politically, not economically! 53 years down the line, our generation has now become a generation of slaves and serfs; and this time not to the British Empire and the white race, but to the emerging Chinese neo-colonial Empire. The Chinese have proven to be more hungry and more deadly in their dealings than all the British, Indian, and Lebanese exploiting classes resident in Zambia. The struggle must continue against these foreign exploiters!

What is to be Done?
Therefore, our immediate political task is to organize and win back ownership and control of our county! In this struggle, there shall be no sacred cows. The Chinese colonialists looting our country must become our prime enemy number one. Our biggest guns and best efforts must be pointed at the Chinese exploiters; because the Chinese are the biggest threat to our sovereignty, and they have the most destructive impact on our economy. Next to be to be sorted out or booted out; are the arrogant Indians and Lebanese. But ultimately, the first small group to be sorted out is the corrupt political ruling class – these are the puppets and henchmen of all these foreigners who are growing and prospering at our expense!

Down with Chinese Imperialism and Colonialism!
Down with all Political puppets and henchmen of the Chinese!
Forward with the Struggle for Zambia’s Economic Freedom!
All Power belongs to the People!

The author of this article is a Socialist Revolutionary, Pan-Africanist and Leader of the ELA, Africa Secretariat of the RCIT |