Miles apologises to Chinese community

LINDA SOKO TEMBO writes  LUSAKA Mayor Miles Sampa has apologised to the Chinese Community in the City and beyond for the tone and language he used towards one of their nationals ‘Chinaman’. Mr Sampa said that he did not know before that it was a derogatory term and that the Chinese national had since lodged in a formal complaint against the use the word he used ‘Chinaman’ and that they demanded he render an apology. Speaking at a media press briefing yesterday, Mr Sampa as he reviewed events in the past week and previous weekend as he was monitoring the conduct towards some business houses.  Mr Sampa said that he had accepted his error in Judgment of physically going to the business premises instead of engaging relevant offices and institutions execution of revoking trading licenses for any trader or business house that maybe found wanting. “As a Mayor I can give guidance but actual execution of revoking trading licenses for any trader or business house that maybe found wanting or in breach of any law of the land need to be done by relevant offices and institutions. “I sincerely apologies to all the Chinese people. My calling is to respect all human beings be it in deed or speech regardless of their race or nationality,” he said. Mr Sampa apologised to all other Leaders in whose jurisdiction his actions may have interfered with and put their office into disrepute he gave his assurance hereon to always keep to his lane and mandate. He assured all foreign investors in Lusaka that his office was there to support their businesses 100 percent and where we would feel their was misconduct or breach of laws, he would engage them in a more civil manner through relevant offices and institutions.  Mr Sampa in the previous weeks had revoked three trading licenses of Chinese owned business without the proper laid down procedure. The Sun