There is no doubt China’s economic influence is spreading in Africa – and Zambia – leading to a great deal of anxiety amongst our typical cooperating partners, who fear they are loosing important opportunities to a country playing by its own rules. The general perception is that a horde of Chinese state-owned companies are driving a second wave of colonialism in Africa, only thinking about exploiting the continent’s natural resources, with no regard to labour standards, good governance and environmental protection. However, a closer look at Chinese investment in Zambia paints a different picture. Let’s start with my own neighbourhood along the Mungwi Road. Here, alone, we have more than 10 Chinese investors. Their investment portfolio includes quarrying, chickens and other farming activities, steel, roofing sheets and other building materials, recycled paper, salaula (second-hand clothing), kitchen utensils – and perhaps a few activities hid
