Banda Challenges Mayor Sampa For Closing ‘Racist’ Chinese Businesses

Local Government Minister Charles Banda has challenged Lusaka Mayor Miles Sampa over his decision to close down several Chinese-owned businesses which were accused of racism towards Zambians. 

Mayor Sampa has recently launched a crack-down on discriminatory businesses in Lusaka, closing down a Chinese restaurant in Longacres neighbourhood last week for allegedly calling a Zambian man ‘foreigner’. He then went on to shut down a Chinese-run barbershop for similarly discriminatory behaviour.

However, Dr Banda has criticised the mayor for his actions, saying that they did not follow the due process of the law. 

The minister said it was unacceptable for local officials to unilaterally cancel trading licences without following proper procedure. He argued that only town clerks, and not the mayor, were authorised to revoke these licenses. 

Dr Banda is no stranger to controversy, having clashed in the past with Permanent Secretary Bishop Edward Chomba over the construction of the Longacres bridge, as well as with Health Minister Chitalu Chilufya over the payment of fees for churches to acquire permits. 

Dr Banda said these latest actions by the Lusaka Mayor were unacceptable in the view of the government and that appropriate sanctions would be imposed on Lusaka officials who had acted outside of their authority.