Lusaka — China's ambassador to Zambia is being childish, Patriotic Front (PF) president Michael Sata said yesterday. And Sata said the Chinese envoy, Li Baodong, has become an MMD cadre.

Meanwhile, Sata said President Mwanawasa's deKitwesire to amend the law on treason was meant to fix him.

Reacting to Ambassador Li's remarks that the Chinese government will cut diplomatic ties with Zambia if PF establishes relations with Taiwan after winning the September 28 elections, Sata questioned the motive behind the Chinese government's persistently strong reaction to the matter.

"I find the reaction by the Chinese government very childish and I take strong exception to the Chinese behaviour where they have come out so strongly and openly campaigning for MMD," Sata said. "It's up to the Zambians to see and learn from this and know who is with them because it's now clear that Zambia has been mortgaged to China. That's why a foreign government can have the audacity to be holding press briefings where they are openly campaigning for the MMD."

Sata challenged Ambassador Li to disclose to the nation the deals they have with President Mwanawasa's government. "Why is he coming out so strong? He has become a proper MMD cadre, thank God, him and other Chinese citizens that are flooding Zambia have no vote to cast on September 28 because if they had, I don't know what they could have done," Sata said.

He wondered why the Chinese government appears to be so apprehensive about the issue of him meeting Taiwanese. "I am not yet in government; on September 29 if they cut off ties with Zambia, it will be justified. When I form government and they do that, it will be justifiable but they are panicking because they have equally felt our impact," Sata said. "I am happy that I have been vindicated because I have been saying that these guys are funding and campaigning for MMD. So I am glad because their outbursts have confirmed what I have been saying because if it were not so, why the panic? They are even saying that they will cut relations with Zambia if PF forms government."

Sata said there was no need for the Chinese to panic if they were genuine investors.

"They know that the MMD has been protecting them from the way they have been mistreating Zambians. But for me, Zambians come first and my aim is to protect Zambia's interest," Sata said. "We have major investors in this country; we have European, US and other investments. So why are the Chinese the only ones panicking? I have met Italian and British businessmen, so why can't I meet the Taiwanese?"

He accused President Mwanawasa of playing double standards over the matter.

"There are several Taiwanese businessmen in Zambia and Levy knows them. So why is he playing double standards? Zambia has recognised Cuba, the US has not but has the US ever accused Zambia of playing dangerous politics?" he asked. "...they even want to make my talking to the Taiwanese a treasonable offence. You can't have a President who is so cruel and vindictive. His statement about selling the sovereignty of this country is also childish. How do you have a leader who wants to amend the law so that he hangs me just because I talked to the Taiwanese?"

Sata said President Mwanawasa was too emotional to lead this country. And speaking on Radio Phoenix's Let The People Talk programme, Sata said opinion polls were better because they were provoking voters.

"I would like them to continue provoking Mr. Mwanawasa. It's also provoking the voters, they are indicators and they help," he said. When asked what would happen if he lost the elections, Sata responded: "Every journey has an end, this might be an end of Michael Sata but that will not be the end of PF. This party will one day form government in this country. But we are winning these elections."

Sata said he has been consulting several governments in the region.

"I recently had meetings with government leaders in Malawi and I learnt that in Malawi, the cost of all essential commodities is the same. We can do that as well," he said. He also appealed to defence chiefs to allow the defence forces cast their votes freely.