The Chinese community in Zambia’s Sinazeze District have announced that they will refuse to bury Wu Shengzai, who was crushed to death by a trolley pushed by protesting workers at Collum Coal Mine, until justice prevails and the killers are brought to account.
But their demands of justice contrast sharply with statements Zambia’s Foreign Affairs Minister Given Lubinda, who has sought to downplay the growing tension between the two countries, saying that Mr. Wu’s death will not affect relations.
Owners of the Sino-Coal mine are still bitter that one of the assailants has not yet been arrested by Zambia police, and the Chinese Ambassador to Zambia has said that he is concerned that the incident may cause harm to relations between the country.
“The Chinese are saying ‘no soil’, meaning no burial of their friend who was killed at shaft 5. So we have a problem as the mutilated body is still lying in Maamba Hospital mortuary,” a source said.
Despite assurances from the Zambian government, many Chinese are fearful to leave their homes in the current environment, as the wage riots have spread to other locations.
However, Southern Province police commissioner Charity Katanga appealed to the miners to help police bring to book the ring leader of the protest and who is also believed to be behind the killing of the Chinese national.
Home Affairs Deputy Ministers Stephen Kampyongo and Nickson Chilangwa today addressed over 40 miners at shaft 6 and assured the Chinese investors that they were protected.
Kampyongo accused the Chinese of failing to communicate to their workers, which he said led to the August 4 fracas.
Meanwhile, Lubinda told journalists today that Zambia, China relations had remained cordial and that the incident at Collum Mine was being resolved.
He revealed that that the Zambian government was worried with the impression that the fracas had caused.
“The Zambian government is deeply worried with assertions that are going round that the incident at Collum Coal mine had spoiled relations between Zambia and China. I wish to assure you that Zambia enjoys long standing relations with China and that matter is being resolved,” Lubinda said.