The unprecedented move reflects a change in approach to Zambia’s dealings with Chinese projects. Previous regimes were accused of being overly cosy with the Chinese as some of the projects seemed disadvantageous to the country.
In 2017, former President Edgar Lungu “flagged off” the reconstruction and expansion into a dual carriage of the 321 km Lusaka-Ndola road. China Jiangxi Corporation for International Economic and Technical Cooperation (CJIC) was to implement the 327km project, which was expected to be complete in approximately four years.
The project, which was to be one of the biggest in Zambia’s history, was expected to create more than 3,000 jobs during the construction phase.
China’s Zambia focus
In 2015, Chinese President Xi Jinping said his country would plough $60bn into African infrastructure projects to boost agriculture, build roads, ports and railways.
With the
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