Zambia president urges calm after mine shooting

President Rupiah Banda urged Zambians Thursday not to create a phobia against Chinese people over a shooting at the Maamba Collum coalmine October 15.

"Let's be careful that we do not single out people. Every day people are shot at by Zambians, whites, Americans. This business of 'Chinese, Chinese,' we should not create a phobia against people," Banda said.

Two Chinese nationals have been charged with attempted murder for allegedly shooting randomly at Zambian miners who protested poor working conditions at their Chinese-run mine.

China's embassy in Lusaka said in a statement Wednesday that Beijing respected and supported the Zambian side in investigating and dealing with the shooting in which 11 local employees and three Chinese were injured.

"Officials from the embassy went to the site to collect information. They ... urged the owner of the coalmine to complete the paying of the due salaries to the local employees," the statement revealed. The embassy "had arranged negotiation between the two parties for a fair and decent salary settlement."

As one of Zambia's major sources of investment, China has played a positive role in the country's economic and social development, it added.

Zambian main opposition leader Michael Sata of the Patriotic Front has condemned the shooting and accused Banda of protecting the Chinese.

Banda said that because Lusaka offers a favorable investment climate it was clear that many foreign investors would come to Zambia, which could result in a violation of labor laws.

The president condemned the shooting, and said investors such as the Chinese should respect the country's laws.

"I don't like what happened there, and the law is definitely taking its course. They must follow labor laws," Banda added.

Agencies