First published - February 2007
The pristine Chinese gateway at Chambishi in northern Zambia was supposed to celebrate the arrival of President Hu Jintao of China and the launch of a new $200m smelter at the town's Chinese-owned copper mine. But when protesting African miners surrounded the site last Friday, the event was abandoned.
Chambishi exemplifies China's questionable involvement in Africa. Conditions are poor, the area remains undeveloped and 46 miners died in an explosion there two years ago - all of which explain the protests. But mining accidents happen elsewhere, and, under Zambian (mis)management, the mine was failing until the Chinese arrived in 1998.
The cancelled photo-op is vaguely embarrassing, but changes nothing. China imports 63 per cent of its base metals from Zambia alone. And Zambia needs
China; 64 per cent of its exports are metals, and the Chinese have invested $600m in Zambian hydro electrics. The economic needs of both countries will inevitably trump details such as minimum wages or health and safety standards (rare in Africa, anyway).
