Mon, 12 Feb 2018 08:17:25 +0000
By BENNIE MUNDANDO, SANDRA MACHIMA and MUKOSELA KASALWE
ALL those who participated in the plot to stone Chinese nationals should be brought to book because their actions were bound to imperil the economy apart from derailing the sound relations Zambians has with China.
Stoning and bad mouthing Chinese nationals as proposed by Kambwili and his colleagues in an audio obtained by Daily Nation would tarnish Zambia’s image as a favourable investment destination, a reputation painstakingly built over decades.
And Minister of Justice Given Lubinda has warned politicians championing xenophobia against Chinese and other investors in the country to stop as no country could exist in isolation.
Speaking to the Daily Nation yesterday, vice chairperson for the 1964 Independence Freedom Fighters Association, John Kapapi, said If Mr Kambwili did not stop his sinister activities in Luanshya aimed at destabilising Government, he would soon land in big trouble.
Mr. Kapapi said Mr Kambwili’s tactics to push for national leadership were misguided as no individual in the history of Zambian politics has been made president by destabilising a legitimately elected Government.
“Chishimba Kambwili must not push his luck too far because he will find himself in very serious trouble which will put his presidential ambitions into jeopardy. In fact all those who attended his meeting should be arrested for trying to promote anarchy in the country,” Mr. Kapapi warned.
And Mr. Lubinda advised Zambians to reject politicians who were championing racism, saying there was no single country in the world which would exist on its own as the world had become a global village.
“Some politicians are preaching the messages of isolationism. We can shout Zambia first but we can never afford to shout Zambia alone. Those who think we can survive without other people are bound to fail and fail embarrassingly. I would therefore like to appeal to my fellow Zambians to abhor any signs of racism in the same way we are abhorring tribalism,” Mr. Lubinda said.
Meanwhile, Commerce Minister Margaret Mwanakatwe charged that it was foolish for anyone to advocate and think of getting rid of the Chinese people when Zambia had benefitted immensely from China.
“Anyone or any political party advocating and wanting to get rid of the Chinese are not sincere and do not know what they want. As Zambians, we should get the best from China,” Ms. Mwanakatwe said.
In a leaked recording of a meeting held by Mr. Kambwili in Luanshya, the Roan member of Parliament is heard instructing NUMAW and MUZ officials to apply for a permit where he was supposed to address ex-miners.
Mr. Kambwili is also heard inciting his supporters and ex-miners to stone all Chinese nationals from Luanshya and mount pressure on Government until all were given jobs at Baluba mine as he accused Government of coming up with lists of people it wanted the Chinese to employ.
