EYA blasts bitter opposition over China

THE resentment opposition political parties are showing towards China will have an adverse effect on development projects funded and implemented by that country, says Evangelical Youth Alliance (EYA) executive director Moses Lungu.

Reverend Lungu said such resentment could also weaken Zambia’s bilateral ties with China which would in turn affect the nation regardless of its affiliation. Speaking to the Daily Nation yesterday, Rev. Lungu said he had noted with dismay, the ridicule that Chinese investments and aid to Zambia, had been subjected to by opposition political parties and their allies but said there was no sincerity in any of their claims. He said contrary to lies peddled by some sections of society, foreign investment was an essential element in any given country’s quest for accelerated and protracted socio-economic development. Rev Lungu said China had done a lot in almost all the sectors of the economy from funding to carrying out projects especially in infrastructure development. He said that continued attacks on Chinese investment by some opposition political parties would assault such good gestures and affect the economy. “Chinese investments in Zambia is contributing to the creation of employment opportunities, introduction a diversity of new products, thereby affording local consumers a greater assortment of products to choose from, “This also contributes to the tax revenues for government and promotes exports and, thereby, contributing to the generation of foreign exchange,” Rev. Lungu said. He said as a result of these positives from then Chinese investments, the promotion of FDI has become one of the major components of the economic policy regimes of all countries of the world today. “In fact, even countries which already have strong economies (such as Sweden, Australia, and G-7 nations) and have historically relied mainly on local investment have generated ambitious policies designed to attract FDI, “It is, therefore, important for us to be aware that our country is competing for FDI not only with developing countries but also with the more developed and affluent countries in the world,” he said.