Advertisement
Triple murder exposes tensions for Chinese businesses in Zambia
- The killings occurred as the mayor of the country’s capital cracked down on perceived discrimination against local workers
- Trouble on the ground contrasts with relationship pursued at state level between the two countries
Reading Time:3 minutes
Why you can trust SCMP
Late last month in the Zambian capital of Lusaka, two men and a woman allegedly broke into a Chinese-owned clothing factory and killed three Chinese nationals before setting fire to the building.
The alleged attackers were reportedly employees and are under arrest; the victims were the factory’s bosses.
The Chinese embassy in Lusaka, condemned the “appalling and violent incident” and urged the Zambian government to take measures to protect the safety of Chinese citizens in the country.
Advertisement
While the motivation for the killings is not known, they came hard on the heels of controversial raids on Chinese-owned businesses in the capital after Zambian workers complained they were not allowed to return home after work, apparently to prevent an outbreak of the pandemic coronavirus.
The killings and the raids have once again exposed tensions on the ground for Chinese and Africans as Beijing forges stronger commercial and political ties with the continent.
Over the last month Lusaka mayor Miles Sampa has led a crackdown in the capital on Chinese-run businesses, including restaurants and barbershops, that he accused of discriminating against Zambians.
Advertisement
Select Voice
Choose your listening speed
Get through articles 2x faster
1.25x
250 WPM
Slow
Average
Fast
1.25x