China–Zambia political and economic relations in historical context

Makhura B Rapanyane

doi:10.4102/apsdpr.v8i1.350

Abstract

Background: The Scholarship of China–Zambia relations is gaining immense attention due to the emerging mainstream media reports that Zambia is set to loose its State Owned Power Company (ZESCO), National Broadcasting Corporation and Kenneth Kaunda International Airport to China. Aim: To determine the influence of Zambia’s political and economic environment in China’s engagement with the African country. Setting: Based on historical sensibility, this research article uses Zambia’s political and economic fertile grounds to revisit what drives the Chinese engagement in Zambia within a historical context. Methods: This research article employed qualitative research approach in the form of primary and secondary data collection. Complemented by a combination of Afrocentric research methodologies (reinforcer of qualitative method) and thematic content analytic tools. Results: It has been established that China has managed to gain nefarious fangs into most of the Zambian mineral resources due to the African country’s strong political environment and fertile economic conditions. Conclusion: China’s Africa engagement is driven by the local conditions which allows it to do business without any worry, or fear or instability. Thus, Zambia can be seen as one of the best test case points, through an Afrocentric point of view.

Highlights

Looking at the studies conducted by Transformation Index BTI (2018), #AfricanCan (2019) and African Economic Outlook (2019), it was discovered that the fundamental objective behind the undertaking of this research was not addressed
Zambia has fundamental elements of liberal trade, which conform to the international laws governing World Trade Organization (WTO), making it easy for Chinese investors to trust Zambia as one of the suitable and conducive environments in Africa for investment
The empirical investigation of this article shows that China’s historical engagement with Zambia dates back to the last six decades and they both had well-nourished economic and political relations. This is supported by the findings of this article, showing that during the colonial times, and even after colonialism, China supported Zambia economically, for example, through the TAZARA project

Summary

Introduction

Looking at the studies conducted by Transformation Index BTI (2018), #AfricanCan (2019) and African Economic Outlook (2019), it was discovered that the fundamental objective behind the undertaking of this research was not addressed. The problem identified in reviewing other studies is related to the role played by both political and economic environments in China’s engagement with Zambia. In this context, it is important to note that China seems to be extensively involved in Zambia, which raises the question of what really influences China’s engagement with Zambia. It is noteworthy that this article discusses both Zambia’s political and economic environments in order to draw a clear understanding of what could be motivating China to engage extensively with Zambia in the Southern Africa. The Scholarship of China–Zambia relations is gaining immense attention due to the emerging mainstream media reports that Zambia is set to loose its State Owned Power Company (ZESCO), National Broadcasting Corporation and Kenneth Kaunda International Airport to China

Objectives

Discussion

Conclusion