President Lungu’s trip to China – A failure or success?

Here is my take.
The real truth is that the Zambian Government secured US$130 million from China under a concession of loans and grants, out of which $65 million of the funds will be channeled towards the construction of communication towers in the country under the Zambia Information, Communication and Technology Authority (ZICTA). The real deal for Zambia during this trip was the borrowed money.

Investment pledges are simply, pledges. It does not mean that the pledges made will actually result in real investments on the ground. This is the case of counting chickens before the eggs hatch. Zambia has not secured US$2.4 BILLION! This is naivety of the worst kind! It is therefore very strange to hear the Minister of Foreign Affairs justifying the trip to China based on the Investment pledges Zambia got. Its just so daft to think that business people who were met in China will actually end up investing in Zambia.

In the end, the only thing which this trip has managed to do is get Zambia into more debt! This is the reality! The other thing which this trip achieved is to make sure that the little resources which are left in the Zambia coffers are depleted looking at the DELEGATION which accompanied the President. THIS IS THE REALITY! THIS IS THE TRUTH! WAKE UP ZAMBIA! WAKE UP!