The new catch for Zambia’s fishers

By Derrick Silimina

As Nawa Lubinda stands in a fragile canoe and casts his net into the deep waters of the Zambezi River, he reflects on his daily struggle as a local fisher depending on traditional fishing for his livelihood. 

“It’s getting harder from month to month, and the earlier we implement sustainable practices that can help conserve fish populations and ensure long-term economic benefits for communities, the better,” he says.

Lubinda’s experience of returning home with a poor catch underscores the challenges faced by many small-scale fishers in Zambia. Fishers like him are struggling with overfishing, environmental changes and limited access to modern technologies. 

And it’s not only affecting the fishers themselves – across the country, entire shoreline communities are facing the same pressures. 

The declining fish stocks and changing environmental conditions are making it harder for them to rely on traditional fishing alone. At the same time, limited infrastructure and market access affect their incomes. 

That’s why alternative ways of producing fish are becoming increasingly important for both livelihoods and food security. 

In November 2025, the Zambian government officially launched an aquaculture expansion project worth almost $ 570,000. It was implemented over the past year to eventually increase fish production, generate over 300 metric tons of fish per cycle and create more than 800 jobs.

Floating fish cages

How this vision is taking shape can be seen in the Senanga district, some 900 kilometres west of Lusaka. The Citizen Economic Empowerment Commission (CEEC), in collaboration with the Ministry of Small and Medium Enterprise Development, has introduced floating fish cages along the Zambezi River. 

During the launch, minister Elias Mubanga announced: “This project goes beyond fish farming. It is about empowerment, employment and transformation for our people, especially in rural areas.” 

And in fact, the project is designed not only to increase production and reduce pressure on wild fish stocks, but also to create new opportunities, especially for women and young people. Four cooperatives have therefore been equipped with 26 cages capable of holding 156,000 fish in the first production cycle. 

The number is set to be increased to 56, and they are expected to eventually produce up to a million fingerlings. The associated infrastructure – a 10-tonne cold room and a 5-tonne refrigerated truck for safe fish transportation, among others is just as much a part of this as the training of local groups, a significant proportion of whom are women and young people. 

They are being trained as part of the government programme and are supposed to get involved across the entire value chain of fish production. The programme also includes support for new business ventures.

The project in Senanga district is part of a broader national push to expand aquaculture, supported by fish breeding centres, cold chain facilities and similar programmes in other provinces. Authorities hope the Senanga project will serve as a model for replication elsewhere.

“It may lift us out of perpetual poverty”

The impact is already being felt by local communities. According to Lubinda, people at the local markets talk about “CEEC fish”, and the fishermen are hoping for new sources of income. 

Lubinda says that he and some of his fellow fishers along the river now see their future sooner or later fully beyond traditional fishing – they hope to become aquaculture entrepreneurs, managing a business that starts with the fishes in the Zambezi and ends on dinner plates across the region. 

“I can really imagine that this is going to be a gamechanger for our livelihood and enhance food security in our district,” he says. “Eventually, it may lift us out of perpetual poverty.” 

In fact, the Zambezi River has always been a lifeline in the form of water – now it could even play a decisive role in shaping the future of Zambia in a whole new way, as aquaculture gradually becomes more widespread. 

Mukubesa Kalaluka, another local fisher, agrees. He believes that the “socio-economic ripple effect will be felt in the district and beyond” and that with it indeed empowerment may come.

Relief from Hunger

By Derrick Silimina

In the arid terrain of Shang’ombo District, approximately 850 km west of Lusaka, Zambia’s capital, Charity Imbuwa received a Chinese food-aid pack and shared it with her children at their home near the Angola border. 

“We haven’t eaten anything for the last two days and we’re starving. I thank God for the Chinese food aid, provided through the World Food Programme (WFP), which will save us from hunger,” Imbuwa told ChinAfrica. 

Imbuwa and her family are among more than 188,000 Zambians who have been severely affected by the prolonged drought during the 2023/2024 agricultural season - one of the worst in recent memory - which led to widespread crop failure and increased food insecurity. 

Following the El Niño–induced drought, Shang’ombo District, like many other areas, experienced widespread failure of maize, the country’s staple crop. The drought caused significant crop losses throughout Western Province, making it one of the hardest-hit regions in Zambia. 

“Hunger is terrible because whenever I see my children hungry, I cry a lot, as I feel like I am failing to provide for them,” lamented Imbuwa, a mother of three. 

In Gwembe District in south Zambia, Gift Munkombwe, another beneficiary of Chinese food aid, said climate change has forced many families into poverty. He explained that children are experiencing stunting and malnutrition and are missing school as a result of climate-related hardships. 

“We are deeply grateful for this timely food assistance, which will go a long way in easing hunger,” he said. 

  

Food insecurity 

Zambia is facing the impacts of its worst drought in over four decades, attributed to El Niño and exacerbated by climate change. Oxfam reports that more than 1 million farming families, representing about 6.6 million people reliant on rain-fed agriculture, have been affected. 

The severity of the drought led President Hakainde Hichilema to declare a national disaster and emergency on 29 February 2024, a move aimed at enabling the allocation of additional resources to effectively respond to the crisis. 

“The destruction caused by the prolonged dry spell is immense. The drought has already affected 84 of the country’s 116 districts,” President Hichilema said. 

In response to the crisis, more than 188,000 drought-affected individuals in Zambia are expected to benefit from the food aid project, funded by China through the Global Development and South-South Cooperation Fund. 

China, in collaboration with the WFP, has provided food aid worth $3.5 million to support Zambia’s efforts to locally purchase approximately 5,641 tonnes of maize. The grain distribution, planned over three months, is expected to benefit about 188,057 individuals, roughly 37,000 households, in the districts most affected by drought in the Southern and Western provinces. 

The Chinese government has reaffirmed its commitment to implementing efficient food-aid projects across Africa, including Zambia, as part of broader strategies to address food insecurity caused by drought conditions in the region. 

“This aid package aims to support developing countries in achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals,” said Chinese Ambassador to Zambia Han Jing during the recent handover ceremony to Zambia’s Vice President Mutale Nalumango in Lusaka. 

Han noted that the food aid forms part of China’s Global Development Initiative and demonstrates China’s commitment to Zambia’s development, as well as to strengthening the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership between the two countries. 

The Chinese envoy added that the Global Development Initiative has financed development projects in more than 16 countries, benefitting over 30 million people worldwide. 

Speaking at the same event, Li Shuyin, deputy director of China International Centre for Economic and Technical Exchanges, highlighted the importance of the project, citing China’s commitment to supporting Zambia’s development and promoting South-South cooperation. 

“China is firmly committed to taking decisive action by implementing high-quality and efficient food-aid projects to benefit millions of vulnerable groups,” Li said. 

She added that the project is part of a broader effort by China to deepen cooperation with African countries, with a focus on promoting agricultural development and food security. Li further noted that the Chinese government has invested over $100 million in similar projects across more than 40 countries, benefitting millions of people worldwide. 

Meanwhile, WFP Representative in Zambia Cissy Byenkya Kabasuba expressed gratitude to the Chinese government for its generous contribution. 

“This contribution is a remarkable testament to China’s ongoing dedication to humanitarian support and food security,” Kabasuba said. 

  

Deeper cooperation 

The launch of the project marks a significant milestone in the partnership between China, the WFP and Zambia, underscoring the commitment of all parties to promoting sustainable development and food security in the region. 

“We have been working closely with the Zambian government to provide humanitarian assistance to drought-affected communities, and the WFP plays a key role in implementing the project, ensuring that food aid reaches those most in need,” the organisation said. 

Receiving the donation, Vice President Nalumango expressed gratitude to the Chinese government for the timely assistance, citing the enduring friendship and solidarity between the two countries. 

“This assistance will go a long way in providing much-needed relief to our people, who continue to face the harsh realities of the El Niño aftermath,” Nalumango said during the handover ceremony recently held at the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (DMMU) offices in Lusaka. 

Nalumango paid tribute to the Chinese government as a key partner in Zambia’s development, supporting various sectors including infrastructure, agriculture and capacity building.

“The government is elated with the latest donation, which underscores China’s commitment to supporting Zambia’s efforts to address the impacts of climate change and promote sustainable development,” she said.

Deadly frontier for truck drivers

By Derrick Silimina

Zambian truck drivers are calling for a boycott of routes into the Democratic Republic of the Congo after repeated attacks on foreign drivers and disappearances. Unions demand urgent security guarantees.

Normally, a huge fleet of trucks loaded with shimmering copper cathodes, sacks of cobalt and other goods destined for the world’s tech giants crosses the border between Zambia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). 

These days, however, Zambian truck drivers and the United Truck Drivers and Allied Workers Union of Zambia (UTDAWUZ) have declared their intent to lobby for a global boycott of routes into the DRC due to ongoing brutal attacks on foreign truck drivers. 

“We urge our regional colleagues to prepare for a total boycott of DRC-bound cargo until safety benchmarks are met,” Union President Givans Moonga says.

“We are not always safe crossing into the Democratic Republic of the Congo because foreign truck drivers get killed like flies,” says Milton Kaluba, a Zambian truck driver who now only drives the route across the border with a queasy feeling. “Actually, authorities from both Zambia and Congo should protect our lives,” he says in an excited voice.

“Our drivers are being killed while the world watches”

The border at Kasumbalesa is Zambia’s main trade route into the DRC, a multi-million-dollar trade border linking the Southern African Development Community (SADC) with the DRC and serving as an important transit point for goods to and from southern African countries such as Zimbabwe, Botswana, Namibia and beyond. 

“We have called on the governments of Zambia and the DRC to consider establishing a dry transit port so that foreign truck drivers can unload on the Zambian side at Kasumbalesa and our Congolese colleagues can load cargo from there and take it to their country,” Moonga says.

“Our drivers are being killed while the world watches,” he adds. “We are no longer asking for safety; we are demanding it. If the DRC authorities cannot secure our corridors, then those corridors must remain empty.” 

The call comes amid recent reports of four drivers missing, with their trucks and goods seized at various locations within the DRC. Moonga emphasises that the boycott aims to protect Zambian drivers, because the Congolese government has failed to provide necessary security measures. 

“The global boycott should be implemented until a lasting solution is found to address the drivers’ safety concerns,” Moonga adds.

The Union demands immediate security guarantees, visible and effective protection for all transport workers within DRC borders, accountability, full investigations and prosecution of those responsible for the recent killings and robberies of drivers. 

“We as a union stand ready to coordinate with regional partners to ensure that no other life is lost to ‘silent diplomacy’,” Moonga says.

The Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) relies heavily on border crossings such as Kasumbalesa for customs duties, which are also an important economic lifeline for southern African countries. 

That is why, in the meantime, Zambia’s Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry, Chipoka Mulenga, has stated that the government understands the plight of the affected truck drivers and is working to improve the difficult conditions they face in the DRC. It remains to be seen what this means in concrete terms and whether there will actually be an improvement.

Flowing Into a Better Life

By Derrick Silimina

In Bom Jesus Municipality, a cool breeze drifts in from the Kwanza River, softening the edges of a town marked by landmarks such as António Agostinho Neto International Airport. 

Yet beneath Luanda’s scenic façade, daily life for many residents is defined by a persistent struggle for water. 

“We have to walk 5 to 15 km to access water. This perennial problem is so depressing. What’s more, the lack of clean water causes waterborne diseases in our community,” local resident Isabel Fernando told ChinAfrica. 

Helena Luciano shares the same reality. Like thousands of others, she makes long, exhausting journeys in search of water, often balancing heavy jerrycans on her head or shoulders. 

“The water we collect is usually murky and has to be boiled to make it safe,” Luciano said. “That consumes valuable firewood and time. We really need better infrastructure and climate-resilient measures to improve access to water in our area.” 

Fernando noted that inadequate infrastructure, compounded by a variable climate, has long been the cause of water scarcity in Luanda. Despite being surrounded by water, she said, only about half of the city’s population has access to clean running water, forcing many households to rely on expensive and unreliable informal suppliers. 

“I can’t wait for the day when this nightmare of walking kilometres for drinking water ends,” she said. “I dream of a life where the worry of water is finally washed away.” 

A major water project being carried out by the Power Construction Corp. of China, or PowerChina, could soon help to bring this long-standing struggle to an end. 

  

Channel of hope 

Across the rolling hills of Bom Jesus, wide, freshly excavated trenches cut through the landscape, forming channels that will soon deliver clean water under the Quilonga Grande Water Supply Project, known as System 5. As Angola’s largest ongoing water supply initiative, the project has become a concrete symbol of hope for surrounding communities. 

At the construction site in east Luanda, workers carry out their duties with precision and coordination, underscoring the organised approach to the project’s implementation by PowerChina. 

“We have laid a solid foundation for the main structure and construction is underway as planned. Once completed, the project will significantly ease the chronic water shortages in east Luanda,” PowerChina chief engineer Zhang Peng recently affirmed. 

Zhang Qiang, PowerChina’s project manager, introduced the key components of the Quilonga Water Supply Project: a raw water pumping station with a daily capacity of 570,000 cubic metres, a 12.5 km raw water pipeline, and a water treatment plant capable of processing 500,000 cubic metres daily. 

Water experts say once completed, the System 5 project will provide clean drinking water to the province of Icolo e Bengo and the northeastern areas of Luanda, securing water supply for 5 million people and addressing the challenges posed by rapid population growth and inadequate existing infrastructure. 

“The facility will connect 11 distribution centres with a total storage capacity of 283,600 cubic metres,” Zhang added. 

According to experts, the city of Luanda, with a population of 10 million residents, has a shortage of 1.2 million cubic metres of water per day, primarily caused by three outdated supply systems. 

João Baptista Borges, Angola’s minister of energy and water, recently said the project, which will increase daily water supply capacity by 510,000 cubic metres, aims to connect 350,000 more households to the water network. 

“It plays a crucial role in enhancing urban water security, improving residents’ quality of life, and fostering sustainable social development,” Borges said during a concrete pouring ceremony for the water intake pump station held by PowerChina. 

He added that the integrated project covers water intake, transmission, treatment, and sludge treatment, benefitting around 5 million residents. 

Besides improving water supply, the project will help to bridge socioeconomic gaps, according to the government. 

“The project will provide around 300 direct jobs, and over 90 skilled workers will be trained in various areas, including cultural exchange, language training, and the hiring of local engineers with study experience in China, which helps to foster mutual understanding and cooperation among staff.” 

  

Local development 

Bom Jesus Municipality Administrator Helmano Adriano praised PowerChina’s commitment to local communities through public welfare projects, such as building drinking water systems, installing power grids, and supporting community initiatives, which directly benefit thousands of residents. 

The national water supplier Empresa Pública de Águas EPAL-EP has stated that the system is designed to meet increasing water demand in Luanda and strengthen the area’s water capacity by sourcing water from the Kwanza River, approximately 50 km from the capital. 

The water utility firm revealed that the project comprises raw water pumping stations, transmission pipelines, and distribution centres designed to enhance the efficient delivery of clean water, thereby significantly improving water quality in the region. 

EPAL-EP Administrator Kelson Domingos highlighted that Luanda Province is undergoing rapid population growth, making access to clean drinking water a critical issue for Angola’s residents. 

“In response, Angolan authorities have launched an extensive programme aimed at improving water supply infrastructure. This initiative includes the construction of two water plants, Bita and Quilonga Grande, along with expanded distribution networks,” he noted. 

In this context, Chinese Ambassador to Angola Zhang Bin recently announced new strategic projects for Angola, including the Caculo-Cabaça hydropower project and the new Caio Deep Water Port in Cabinda Province. 

Zhang said the major projects currently underway reflect strengthened relations between China and Angola. 

“There are many Chinese companies with a great interest in investing in Angola, and the embassy would help to make these investments a reality,” Zhang said. 

Sweet taste of oral rehydration

Presentation Sr. Cathy Crawford, left, and Winnie Liywali, right, inspect a borehole in Mwanambinyi, Zambia. -  Photo by Derrick Siliminia

By Derrick Silimina

In the heart of Mongu, Zambia, Sibeso Mulonda recalls suffering from a diarrheal disease not with the searing memory of pain, but with a horrifying sensation of death.

"I struggled with severe dehydration and later discovered that I had an abdominal infection after ingesting contaminated water, which posed a threat to my health," Mulonda told Global Sisters Report.

Mulonda, a fish trader at Mulamba Harbour, some 580 km from the capital of Lusaka, described her illness as so severe that during her feverish state, it felt as though the disease pulled her vital organs down, leaving her helpless against the unseen bacterial poison and stripping her of strength and life.

The moment of recovery was a pivotal point in Mulonda's experience, highlighting the importance of access to clean water, symbolized by the sweet taste of the oral rehydration salts her mother brought from a mission clinic.

"My predicament indicates how inadequate access to clean water poses serious health risks, hence the vital role of improved sanitation and water management in safeguarding community health and well-being," she said.

For this reason, the Sisters of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary's efforts in sinking deep wells and installing water pumps in the Mongu district are instrumental in improving access to clean water, as their initiatives support self-reliance among community members and help raise living standards.

The religious sisters' water projects, supported by Irish partners and the International Presentation Association through the Clean Water Initiative program, play a crucial role in improving health outcomes in affected communities. Their efforts contribute significantly to disease prevention and promote better sanitation and health conditions in vulnerable populations.

Chiyaze Biemba, left, and Presentation Sr. Cathy Crawford fetch water in one of the deep wells provided by the Sisters of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Singanda village at the edge of the Barotse floodplains in Mongu, Zambia. - Photo by Derrick Siliminia

Since the 1990s, Sr. Cathy Crawford, a member of the Presentation Sisters, has actively participated in various development projects, notably contributing to Cheshire Home, a rehabilitation center in Mongu for children with disabilities. As circumstances in the local area evolved, her religious organization expanded its efforts to include additional programs like the Clean Water Initiative and building housing units for vulnerable communities.

"In 2005, due to drought in the Mwanambinyi and Mukulo areas along the edge of the Barotse Floodplain, we came to the community's rescue and sunk 12 deep wells and a borehole. Each of the wells was equipped with a windlass system of a bucket and chain to fetch the water as well as a steel cover on each to ensure the safety and cleanliness of water," Crawford told GSR.

Crawford, who arrived in Mongu more than 30 years ago, explained that the expansion of the organization's efforts demonstrates its adaptive strategy to meet the evolving needs of the community. Currently, the initiatives benefit more than 5,000 families in the villages along the edge of the plain and those living within the plain itself. 

"The water proved to be a real godsend for the people because it provided a constant source. The wells never dried up. Even in seasons of very little and no rain, there was water. People were able to water small gardens, provide water for animals, and most importantly had clean drinking water throughout," she said. 

Crawford said that the borehole in the Mwanambinyi community was equipped with a submersible pump and connected to electricity, facilitating water access in a newly developing area where residents were being allocated plots for housing. The community demonstrated ownership of the project by organizing maintenance and ensuring the sustainable use of the water supply, addressing a critical need in an area previously lacking nearby water infrastructure.

She said that the project primarily benefits women and children, who are typically responsible for fetching water. The Clean Water Initiative has eliminated the need for a water search, allowing children to attend school without the burden of water collection, thereby supporting their education and overall well-being.

Crawford, 80, said the water project has empowered people to cultivate a variety of vegetables, including tomatoes, cabbage, rape, okra and other traditional local varieties. When these vegetables are ready for sale, the community has a market at Mongu's Cheshire Home and various guesthouses around town, which enables beneficiaries to earn cash for their daily needs. 

"It's amazing the difference it has made to people's productivity and initiative, considering that this project was the only one of its kind in the Mongu area, providing water for people not supplied by the Water Department because of distance from the mains supply," she said.

The communities along the edges of the Barotseland floodplain remain heavily reliant on shallow wells for their water supply, despite the area's scenic beauty.

In late 2023 to 2024, Zambia faced a severe cholera outbreak, with cases exceeding 23,000 and hundreds of deaths. The outbreak especially impacted children in Lusaka and drought-affected areas, highlighting significant public health challenges and the vulnerability of specific populations during such crises.

Similar to Mulonda's experience with contaminated water, Mubita Musangwa's horticulture business in Mongu's Mwanambinyi area illustrates how the dry season and water scarcity directly impacted agricultural productivity and livelihoods in arid western Zambia. 

Mubita Musangwa, one of the beneficiaries of the water project in the Mwanambinyi area of Zambia. - Photo by Derrick Siliminia

"I fail to sustain my vegetable garden during the dry season due to limited water supply from a drying water hole, which disrupts horticultural activities and affects my income stability," Musangwa said.

Crawford said that her congregation's charism, which revolves around hospitality, caring for the sick and the most vulnerable, and educating those at the margins of society, aligns with the values of service and compassion demonstrated in the lifelong efforts of the congregation's founder, Nano Nagle.

Inspired by Nagle to make a positive impact on people's lives, Crawford initially worked several years as a social worker in Ireland. When she accepted an assignment to join the Presentation Sisters' mission in Mongu, she embraced the role willingly.

"Our work in Mongu, particularly on women and children, demonstrates hospitality to address various needs that arise regularly. I feel we are following in the footsteps of Nano Nagle, our foundress," Crawford said. "It gives me inspiration and courage to remember that I'm part of the larger Presentation family and working with people has given and taught me much more than I have given them. For that, I will always be grateful."

For Winnie Liywali, the sisters' approach went beyond simply gifting the water borehole to the Mwanambinyi community; they also established a water committee and provided training in maintenance and basic sanitation, ensuring sustainable management of the resource.

"This bolehole is an asset in the surrounding villages with over 20 household beneficiaries in the Mwanambinyi area. We are very grateful for the sisters to come to our aid and have access to clean running water because our livelihoods have significantly improved," said Liywali. 

Musangwa credits the success of his horticultural business to the water facility, which enables year-round irrigation. He specifically attributes this achievement to the sisters' timely water project initiative, highlighting the impact of their intervention on sustaining his business activity throughout the year.

"I am super excited because the water facility has enabled my vegetables and orchard to be irrigated consistently, transforming my business from seasonal to year-round green productivity."

A steady income for young Zambians

 

By Derrick Silimina

Affordable Chinese-made motorcycles are changing how Zambians work and move. They enable many young people to find work as couriers or in repair shops amid a labor market that offers few alternatives.

Amid the hustle and bustle of Lusaka, Zambia’s capital, a swarm of small, swift and brightly colored Chinese-made motorcycles has become a familiar sight. Over the past months and years, they have become the primary transport and delivery means in a city where jobs are scarce and opportunities limited. 

“Working in the courier business is a dream come true. With my bike, I can now earn more than twice what I used to make as a driver in the industrial area,” 34-year-old Chileshe says as he kicks the starter and the engine rumbles to life with a satisfying growl.

Chileshe’s red Xianfeng motorcycle isn’t just a workhorse, he says, but his lifeline as most Chinese-made brands such as Haojue and Lifan are known for their reliability, affordability, their fuel efficiency and ease of maintenance. 

The young man began working as a delivery rider two years ago when he finally managed to purchase a Chinese motorcycle. Since then, he has successfully leveraged this opportunity to improve his livelihood. 

“Now, I have flexible working hours and a steady income, which not only enhances my economic stability but also gives me a sense of purpose and well-being,” he says. “Now I can even set aside some savings.”

A steady income amid unemployment

Chileshe’s story is one of many. Lots of young people in Zambia have found a new way to greater prosperity with the low-budget motorbikes. The Chinese-made vehicles provide them with job opportunities via courier platforms amid high unemployment. 

Young riders earn income through delivering various goods such as food, flowers, household appliances and parcels and receive payment for each delivery. 

Speaking to them on the streets often yields the same response: they no longer struggle to look for another job and are happy to earn a living via a courier business, enabling them to pay rent and provide food for their family.

Interestingly, the influx of Chinese-made motorbikes has also led to an increased skills transfer among young motorbike repairers and spare-parts dealers in the southern African country, says Joel Phiri. 

The young and aspiring motorcycle mechanic recently recognised the abundant availability of motorbike spare parts, particularly from Chinese manufacturers that allow for easy maintenance and customisation. 

It inspired him to establish a motorcycle-based garage along Lusaka’s Lumumba Road, the city’s important commercial and transport corridor, to make a living from the growing demand for motorcycle repairs and modifications in the city. 

“Actually, I no longer worry about the high cost of living in Lusaka. I make a stable daily income as the demand for bike repairs is really high,” says Phiri.

Local hopes amid growing Chinese exports

As Chinese investment in motorcycle production and assembly plants is growing across Africa, including Zambia, Phiri hopes that some of these investments promote greater local production and create further employment opportunities. 

Yet, most of the motorbikes are being exported from China to African countries. In the first quarter of 2025 alone, Zonsen Motorcycle exported over 130,000 motorcycles worth nearly $ 90 million, said International Department Manager Zhou Chun in a China Daily article. “Africa is one of our most important overseas markets,” he added.

Phiri’s expectations do not seem too far-fetched. A delegation from a Chinese company recently expressed interest in establishing a motorcycle assembly plant in Zambia’s Kapiri Mposhi district, an important transport and logistics hub located at the intersection of two major railway lines. 

Officials have welcomed the investors and expressed hopes that the plant will create employment opportunities for local residents as well as revenues for local authorities that could be used to fund public services and infrastructure projects.