China is busy in Africa, they are building roads, hospitals, electrical plants on and on and on… and they are still looking for more opportunities. Next up? Zambia. The Zambia National Boradcasting Corporation announces that a Chinese firm has appealed to the government for a mine prospecting license. Zambia will give up its copper resources to the Chinese and in return they will receive:

Company President Charles Shi said the firm plans to set up a new city in the North-Western Province, complete with an independent hydropower station and water supply system. Mr. Shi said the mining company does NOT intend to use power from ZESCO’s national grid but to construct a new hydro power station on one of the rivers in the North-Western. He said Friday that if approved, the smelter will be biggest in Zambia.

So the Chinese stay true to their pattern:

Get in-country and access local natural resources for export to China

Import Chinese labor

Create infrastructure specific to the project with no benefit to the host country.

So I ask you this… why would any African government take this deal? What good is the addition of the the new mines, power plant, city and smelter in Zambia if none of the people benefit? What will Zambia or any African country be left with if China, gets in, takes what it wants, and leaves? Who can blame the Chinese from working this way? It is cheaper and more efficient for them, and it is not their job to protect Africa… it is their job to protect and grow China. Who is doing the same for the nations of Africa?