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Zambia probes Chinese clothes factory murder
Police in Zambia have arrested three people suspected of murdering three Chinese nationals, dragging the bodies into a factory and setting it alight.
Home Affairs Minister Stephen Kampyongo has promised a full investigation into Sunday’s “barbaric” crime.
It took place at the Chinese-owned Blue Star clothing factory.
The attack comes amid a controversial crackdown in the capital, Lusaka, on Chinese businesses accused of discriminating against Zambians.
There has also been tension over reports that Chinese factory managers have been forcing employees to sleep at work to stop the spread of coronavirus, the BBC’s Kennedy Gondwe reports from Lusaka.
The Chinese embassy in Zambia said the killings were “appalling and vicious acts of violence”.
Police say the motive for the attack, which took place in the Makeni suburb of the capital, is unclear.
One of those arrested had fled to the city of Ndola some 310km (192 miles) north of Lusaka, police spokesperson Esther Katongo told the state-run ZNBC broadcaster.
For the last few weeks, Lusaka Mayor Miles Sampa has been leading an operation to close Chinese-owned businesses, including barber shops and restaurants, after locals complained about discrimination.
He has also been sharing posts on Facebook, including videos, of his impromptu raids on Chinese-owned factories where workers are allegedly being mistreated.
In one video, he confronts Chinese managers at a truck assembly plant about their policy of detaining workers and orders them to allow the Zambian workers to go home.
Mr Sampa, who is a ruling party member, has not commented on the killings.
He has clashed with the government over his operation against Chinese firms.
However, the mayor has accused his colleagues of not taking seriously the reports of discrimination against Zambians, our reporter says.
According to China’s state-run Global Times news site, Sunday’s attack was likely to have been prompted by Zambians who misunderstood the good intentions of some Chinese firms that have recently been prohibiting employees from going home after their shifts in response to the coronavirus crisis.
“This is interpreted by locals as an invasion of freedom,” the Global Times quoted a Chinese person living in Zambia as saying.
Zambia’s Foreign Affairs Minister Joseph Malanji has sought to reassure foreign investors that they are welcome in the southern African nation.
“This is something regrettable, this is anarchy and this government will not tolerate anarchy,” he said on Tuesday.
The Minority in the Parliament of Ghana is demanding a refund of about GH¢113 million collected from applicants who failed to qualify in the ongoing security services recruitment.
Addressing journalists in Parliament on Thursday, March 12, 2026, John Ntim Fordjour accused the government of exploiting unemployed youth through the recruitment exercise.
He alleged that the structure of the recruitment process resembled a Ponzi scheme designed to take money from applicants.
According to him, more than 506,000 young people applied to join the security services under the Ministry of the Interior, including the Ghana Police Service, Ghana Immigration Service, Ghana National Fire Service, and the Ghana Prisons Service.
He explained that many of the applicants paid GH¢220 for each application form, hoping to secure employment in the security services.
Mr. Ntim Fordjour expressed concern after the Interior Minister, Muntaka Mohammed Mubarak, announced that only about 5,000 applicants would be recruited from the large pool of applicants.
He questioned why the government allowed more than half a million young people to apply if the intention was to recruit only a small number.
The Minority is therefore calling for an independent bipartisan investigation into the centralized recruitment process.
Mr Ntim Fordjour demanded that the government refund the GH¢220 application fees to applicants who were disqualified, especially those affected by what he described as technical problems during the aptitude tests.
He added that many applicants bought multiple forms to apply to different security agencies, increasing the financial burden on them.
By: Jacob Aggrey
Administrator of the Minerals Development Fund, Hannah Louisa Bissiw, has appealed to supporters of the National Democratic Congress to remain patient as the government works to create employment opportunities.
According to her on GHone TV today, March 12, 2026 the government led by John Dramani Mahama is taking steps to stabilise the economy and address several national challenges, which she believes will eventually create more jobs for the youth.
Dr Bissiw explained that the government inherited many difficulties and is working to fix issues affecting roads, water, electricity, education and the economy.
She noted that addressing these problems takes time and therefore party supporters must allow the government the space to implement its programmes.
Dr Bissiw indicated that leaders of the party, including the National Chairman, Johnson Asiedu Nketia, have been engaging supporters across the country and encouraging them to remain patient.
According to her, improvements in the economy are already being seen, including stability of the Ghana cedi and a reduction in food prices.
She explained that these developments are helping to ease some of the economic pressure on citizens.
Dr Bissiw further stated that the government is making efforts to support young people, especially those who were previously denied employment opportunities.
She revealed that she has personally helped about 63 young people secure opportunities even though they were not previously known to her.
Dr Bissiw therefore appealed to party supporters to remain hopeful and continue supporting the government as it works to improve the economy and create more opportunities for the youth.
By: Jacob Aggrey
