By REBECCA MUSHOTA –
THE Chinese government applies strict measures against corruption in all the projects it funds, including the construction of the Lusaka-Ndola dual carriageway, Chinese Ambassador to Zambia Yang Youming has said.
Mr Yang said since the construction of the Lusaka-Ndola dual carriageway was under the Public Private Partnership arrangement, which included funds from the Bank of China, it was equally subjected to strict anti-corruption measures before it was funded.
Mr Yang made the comments in an interview in view of the continued allegations that the construction of the Lusaka-Ndola dual carriageway was flawed.
Mr Yang said the Chinese administration, and through funding of Chinese companies, had undertaken various infrastructure development projects in Zambia and all the projects were subjected to strict measures against corrupt activities.
“China strictly monitors its investments because we want to see that our investments produce good economic cooperation between Zambia and China as well as good political understanding, and so we ensure there is no corruption before we engage in a project,” he said.
Mr Yang said the Chinese government and the Bank of China could not engage in a project that had elements of corruption.
He said the Chinese investments in Zambia were under close scrutiny from the Zambian people and the international community.
The ambassador said the Bank of China and the Government had a system in place that scrutinised and monitored projects and made sure that these projects were in good standing.
The Lusaka-Ndola dual carriageway will be constructed at a cost US $1.2 billion.
The Government, through the Road Development Agency (RDA), awarded the contract to China Jiangxi Corporation for international Economic and Technical Cooperation (CJIC).