Chinese must review dehumanizing Covid-19 quarantine measures – SACCORD

LINDA SOKO TEMBO writes REPORTS by some Zambian citizens being kept in quarantined conditions that are not conducive and hazardous to their health at the hands of their Chinese counterparts need to be addressed says Southern African Centre for the Constructive Resolution of Disputes (SACCORD). SACCORD executive director, Boniface Cheembe said some complaints by some citizens, in the last few days had become daily, and created a dehumanization process against the Chinese community. In a statement, Mr Cheembe said that the dehumanization process had created an “Us vs Them” dichotomy in the country which was a source of conflict. Mr Cheembe said the conflict had manifested itself in anger on the part of some Zambian citizens and in very unfortunate and regrettable circumstances the reported death of three Chinese nationals.  “In other cases, the anger has manifested itself in demonstrations by some Zambian citizens against their Chinese employers.  “This situation is volatile and there is need on the part of both the Zambian and Chinese communities to act responsibly so that there is harmony among the two communities,” he said.  Mr Cheembe said as SACCORD they were appealing to the Chinese Embassy in Zambia to take a very proactive role in ensuring that Chinese nationals acted within the expected confines of the law, whether Labour and thereby ensuring that their actions did not offend Zambians.  He said there was need for some members of the Chinese community to desist from accusing Zambians as being responsible for the Covid-19 pandemic and that it was not time to blame anyone but time to combat the virus together as humanity. “Scapegoating only seeks to heighten a dehumanization process that has shown to have the capacity of manifesting itself in a violent manner and thereby jeopardizing the peace and harmony between the two communities,” he said. Mr Cheembe the appeal to the Zambians counterparts the Chinese was for fair treatment as human beings in their own country. He urged Zambians not to take the law into their own hands as evidenced by the murdering of three Chinese nationals at a warehouse and that as SACCORD they condemned the act commended the Zambia Police for acting swiftly on such cases of murder. Mr Cheembe said Zambian community must peacefully coexist with all other communities present in the country.  “What is of importance is mutual respect of all communities so that harmony, peace, and unity prevail. The economy must continue running as we battle against the Covid-19 and everyone has a role to play including the Chinese community,” he said. The Sun