China is a friend – Sikota Wina

SUGGESTIONS that the Chinese government would recolonize Zambia through a debt trap are ill founded, because they helped us during the liberation struggle against the imperialists says Veteran politician Sikota Wina. Mr Wina who is also Zambia United Nations Freedom Fighters Association (ZUNFFA) co patron said long before independence China assisted Zambia in the liberation struggle and he personally collaborated with some Chinese individuals. “I can confidently tell you that these assumptions that the Chinese may have ill motive by helping Zambia are not true. Way before independence I travelled to China with Dr Kaunda where we held discussions with the Chinese as they were helping us to fight the imperialists,” he said. Mr Wina explained that he was disappointed with the Anti China campaign as China has been an all-weather friend for years and assisted in developing the country. He said the Chinese assisted in constructing the country’s major infrastructure such as pipelines to transport fuel and railway lines. Mr Wina said people who only wanted to paint China black were the ones propagating the anti-China campaign. He also appealed to government to provide resources to ensure that the countrywide registration and validation of freedom fighters was successful. He said it was however commendable that the Patriotic Front (PF) government was the first to openly recognize the ZNUFFA and support freedom fighters. Mr Wina said freedom fighters should however remain patient and united.