October 06, 2024

 By Linda Mupemo

Five days after gaining independence from its colonial masters on 24th October 1964, Zambia with founding President Kenneth Kaunda at the helm of power established diplomatic relations with the People’s Republic of China. 

The international cooperation was the first of its kind in the region, making Zambia to have been the first country in Southern Africa to establish diplomatic ties with the People’s Republic of China. 

Over the years, the two countries have continued to hold each other’s hands on their paths to modernisation and weathering underdevelopment storms along the way. 

Noteworthy is that Zambia is one of the countries that stood with the People’s Republic of China at a time it needed friends. 

For instance, Dr. Kaunda vigorously championed the restoration of the People’s Republic of China’s seat at the United Nations (UN), a move which  became successful in 1971 during the 26th Session of the UN General Assembly. 

During the celebration of the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China held in Lusaka on 26th September, 2024, Zambia’s Veteran Politician Vernon Mwanga reminisced about having participated in the adoption of Resolution 2758 by the UN General Assembly which reinstated China’s seat at the UN when he was Zambia’s Permanent Representative to the UN.

Mr. Mwanga, who later served as Zambia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs from 1973 to 1975 and from 1991 to 1994, noted that China supported many African countries in their quest to gain freedom from their colonial masters. 

“We regard China as a dependable all – weather friend of Zambia and Africa as a whole.  The country has been working with Zambia and the rest of the world to promote a peaceful, safer, caring and just world for humanity,” he said. 

Mr. Mwanga , a former Minister of Information and Broadcasting in the Movement for Multi – Party Democracy regime, applauded Chinese leaders for implementing radical economic policies which have culminated into the Asian country being the world’s second largest economic superpower. 

He stated that China’s fast – paced development is an inspiration to many developing countries across the globe.

“For this and many other achievements, I congratulate successful leaders of China and the people of China for their foresight and unwavering commitment to their culture of hard work. The standards they have set are an inspiration to many developing countries ,” Mr. Mwanga said at an event which also marked 60 years of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Zambia and China. 

Speaking in a speech read on his behalf by Vice President Mutale Nalumango, President Hakainde Hichilema noted that Zambia and China have nurtured a partnership built on mutual respect, cooperation, shared goals of freedom and prosperity for all. 

Mr. Hichilema cited the Tanzania – Zambia Railway Authority (TAZARA) as a flagship project of the Zambia – China Cooperation adding that its scheduled revitalisation will foster regional integration and trade in Southern Africa. 

“Our cooperation has yielded remarkable projects which have transformed the two countries. These ventures represent the heartbeat of our collaboration aimed at improving livelihoods and fostering economic growth,” President Hichilema said.  

Mr. Hichilema reaffirmed Zambia’s support towards the 10 – point action plan which was proposed by the People’s Republic of China President Xi Jinping during the 2024 Forum on China Africa  Cooperation (FOCAC) Summit. 

Mr. Hichilema observed that emphasis was placed on projects under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) which perfectly aligns with Zambia’s  developmental aspirations of enhancing connectivity and  trade across the African continent. 

“I wish to reaffirm Zambia’s support to President Xi Jinping’s initiatives aimed at building a community with a shared future for mankind through the Belt and Road Initiative, Global Development Initiative, Global Security Initiative and Global Civilisation  Initiative,” Mr. Hichilema said. 

Mr. Hichilema also paid glowing tribute to the People’s Republic of China Founder Chairman Mao Zedong and Zambia’s founding president Dr. Kaunda for forging diplomatic relations between the two countries 60 years ago. 

Notable is that while President Hichilema was attending the FOCAC Summit, he witnessed the signing of agreements between Zambia’s power utility, Zambia Electricity Supply Corporation (ZESCO) Limited, Power China and China Datang Cooperation Limited aimed at diversifying  Zambia’s energy portfolio. 

The agreements relate to a framework cooperation agreement for the supply, delivery and installation of rooftop solar system projects in Zambia, the engineering procurement and construction agreement for Kariba North Solar Photovoltaic (PV) and an agreement for Kafue Gorge lower solar Photovoltaic (PV) power plant in Zambia. 

Zambia largely depends on hydroelectricity for power generation, hence it is facing energy insecurity owing to reduced water levels occasioned by an El Niño – induced drought the country experienced in the 2023/2024 rainy season. 

Additionally, Zambia and  the United Republic of Tanzania  signed an MoU with China Railway Construction Corporation (CRCC) for the revitalisation of  the 1,860 kilometer worn-out TAZARA. 

Chinese Ambassador to Zambia Han Jing assured that China will ensure that the agreements which the two countries signed during the 2024 FOCAC Summit are actualised. 

“These agreements will not merely end on paper. Together, we will make strategic plans for power cooperation to not only help end the current load shedding , but also turn Zambia into a net exporter of electricity as a regional hub,” he said. 

Mr. Han explained that the signing of the MoU on the revitalisation of TAZARA is one of the most important outcomes of the FOCAC Summit which when implemented will turn  TAZARA into a dynamic economic corridor, a railway to prosperity and development. 

“The agreement bears testimony to the fact that the Zambia – China friendship, forged by the older generation of leadership of the two countries has stood the test of changing times and continues to brim with new vitality,” he said. 

The Chinese Ambassador added that trade between China and Zambia stood at 3 billion United States dollars in the first half of 2024, indicating an increase of 5.3 percent. 

Mr. Han said the twinning of some Chinese and Zambian provinces is strengthening cooperation between the two countries by decentralising linkages, adding that Zambia’s Central Province has been twinned with China’s Jiangxi Province while Southern Province has been twinned with China’s Fujian Province. 

“China is striving for equal development opportunities for African countries and working to contribute to a more just and reasonable international order. The Chinese side is ready to cooperate with the Zambian side to renew our traditional friendship, work on the list of cooperation on the ten partnership actions and make a good start for the next 60 years of our relations,” Mr. Han said. 

Mr. Han described China – aided projects such as airports, conference centers, stadia, hospitals and milling plants as indelible footprints of the Zambia – China friendship that transcend time and space and pass on from one generation to the next. 

Zambia has greatly benefited from China through infrastructure development, buildings that ooze architectural excellence. 

Some of the relatively new structures which were constructed with support from China include the 24,000 square meter Kenneth Kaunda Wing of the Mulungushi Conference Centre which has a 2,500 seat capacity conference hall, the US$ 360 million upgrading of Kenneth Kaunda International Airport, the 40,000 seat Levy Mwanawasa Stadium and the Levy Mwanawasa University Teaching Hospital among others. 

Meanwhile, Founding President of Zambia Council for Promotion of Peaceful National Reunification of China Li Weixiang noted that Zambia’s peaceful environment makes it favourable for Chinese nationals to enjoy friendly relations with Zambians. 

“The Chinese community in Zambia is rapidly growing because of Zambia’s friendly people, foreign exchange policy, social safety and stable political environment,” Mr. Li said.

Needless to say China’s triumphant story of transition from extreme poverty to economic prowess is a beacon of hope to developing countries in the global south. 

It is commendable that the People’s Republic of China is leaving no stone unturned in joining hands with developing countries including Zambia to promote equitable modernisation, mutual civilisation, connectivity, green development, agricultural productivity and common security among other initiatives. 

These multi – stakeholder partnerships resonate with the UN Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) number 17 which seeks to promote global partnership and cooperation and reads in part, “Enhance the global partnership for sustainable development, complemented by multi – stakeholder partnerships that mobilise and share knowledge, expertise, technology and financial resources, to support the achievement of the sustainable development goals in all countries, in particular developing countries.”

It is anticipated that the Zambia – China Cooperation will continue to blossom into a fruitful partnership that accelerates economic growth and builds a community with a shared future for mankind. 

This feature article was published in Zambia Daily Mail newspaper on 16th October, 2024.