11 July 2009
THE Chinese embassy has refuted claims by the Patriotic Front (PF) that some Chinese nationals are campaigning for the MMD in the Chitambo Constituency parliamentary by-election in Serenje.
PF spokesperson Given Lubinda on Thursday alleged that the opposition party had evidence that some Chinese nationals were distributing Chitenge materials in support of MMD candidate Solomon Musonda.
A Chinese embassy spokesperson said that there was no way an individual Chinese national or many would support the MMD in the elections, as the act was against China's policy of respecting the sovereignty of a particular state.
He said that the policy of the Chinese in any particular nation was to remain neutral in internal politics. "To our knowledge, we do not know of any Chinese national that can distribute Chitenge or any materials because the policy of the Chinese government is not to interfere or involve ourselves in internal matters of a country," he said.
He said that the policy of the Chinese government was to support national developmental projects of a particular country and not political parties as single entities. Among the developmental projects that he mentioned were projects such as construction of roads, improving water reticulation, health and education sectors.
He said that the policy of the Chinese government in internal matters of a particular nation were well known by that country's nationals and the embassy was taken aback by the reports that some Chinese nationals were distributing Chitenge materials.
"We are surprised because our principle as Chinese government is never to support political campaigns," he said. He said that Chinese nationals in Zambia would at all costs abide by the country's laws but at the same time respect the sovereignty of the State. In many instances, he said, the embassy was in constant touch with their nationals as to inculcate into their minds the acceptable norms in a particular country.
He said that it was wrong for the PF to suggest that some Chinese nationals were distributing MMD Chitenge materials as the acceptable norm in Zambia was well known to that country's nationals.
The Chitambo parliamentary by-election was announced following the death in May of area Member of Parliament who was Lands deputy minister Nasim Hamir.
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