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:
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?
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Sadly your comments are misleading and written out of fear of the new Afrochinese relationship. 60 years of following western democrazy and dealings cannot compare to the wealth generated by African and Chinese business together in the past 15 years.
China has provided the skills and capital for the development of countless projects across the young African continent.
They are also buying up LOTS of the prime agricultural land in various African countries, eg the new project in Malagasy Republic — a 99 year lease on some of the best growing land. It’s said to be equal to ~ 3% of the entire country in just 1 deal!
No requirement that workers be from Malagasy, no lease payments based on % of gross revenues from the land, no prospect of increasing lease payments over the life of the deal, no prospect for shorter terms, eg 10 years, with renewal options at the behest of the Malagasy govt!
Why are these one-sided terms allowed in such deals???
In the 21st century, China seems to want to be a NEW COLONIAL POWER from far away, exploiting Africa for their own ends!!!
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