Trust born of tragedy builds closer ties

The stadium for the All-Africa Games next year is being built by a joint venture that includes Chinese companies. Photos by Zhang Wei / China Daily

In the past two years, many locals who had been uneasy about Chinese investment have been won over, he says. That is partly because of the goodwill created after the explosions. But there are other factors, too, including employment opportunities and decent wages.

Basic Weihai workers earn about $5 a day, $1 above minimum wage. Skilled construction workers can earn above $500 a month, while a Brazzaville police officer makes about $50 per month. At other Chinese companies, such as Beijing Uni-Construction Group, locals with several years' experience and specialist training can receive up to $15 a day.

Osee says Chinese workers' willingness to get their hands dirty has also created a great deal of positive sentiment. "The Chinese get respect because they work closely with the local people," he says.

Back in the foothills above Brazzaville, Weihai's Chinese laborers sleep eight to a 24-square meter dorm. Most have contracted malaria or dengue fever. A tropical illness is almost a rite of passage.

Yu Qinghua, project manager and deputy general manager of Weihai in Congo, says working and living in close quarters has brought down barriers between locals and Chinese.

"The Chinese and Congolese workers have been working together so long that they have developed their own language. It's part French and part Mandarin."

Zhang Linghu, director-general of Beijing Uni-Construction Group's Congo operations, knows of several Chinese workers who have died as a result of illness. He himself has had dengue fever.

Chinese workers are prepared to do what other foreign workers are not, he says.

"We have more than 400 Chinese employees here. Chinese companies will work and live in conditions Western companies won't. They spend a lot of money on worker accommodation. We can save on this, and the financial beneficiary is Congo."

Unlike other foreign fly-in fly-out style laborers, who can typically work two months then expect to be flown home for a break, the Chinese do it the tough way.

"The company pays for basic Chinese workers to fly home for a holiday once every two years," Zhang says. "All our Chinese workers work seven days a week. They get four days off for public holidays each year."

Beijing Uni-Construction Group, one of the first Chinese companies to venture into the Democratic Republic of Congo in the 70s, and into the Republic of Congo in the 90s, has completed more than 50,000 sq m of construction in the two countries worth more than $100 million.

"We are now building another 70,000 sq m with a contract for $140 million," Zhang says. "It will include hospitals, a broadcasting building and a conference center."

The Republic of Congo is fortunate enough to be rich in oil and gas, Zhang says, which means that unlike many other African countries it does not have to borrow money to pay for infrastructure projects.

About $3 billion of the oil and gas windfalls are being spent on infrastructure projects every year, he says.

And while Chinese and other foreign companies are competing fiercely for a slice of the pie, the latest competitors have come from an unexpected quarter.

"Some local Congo workers, after a few years working and being trained by us or another Chinese company, leave and start their own businesses," Zhang says. "It's a loss for us, but at the same time I'm glad we have given them the skills to improve their lives."

Kambi Bithovenne, 26, has been working as a scaffolder with BCEG for four years. He says he eventually plans to use the skills he has learned from the Chinese, and the money he has saved, to start his own construction and scaffolding business.

"I was looking for a job for a few years," he says. "This is my first job after I finished school. It's difficult to find a job here. I learned how to do building from the Chinese technicians. When I came here I knew nothing. Now, even if I don't stay with this company, I can get a good job. I'd like to have my own construction business one day. The Chinese teach us everything. After that, it's no problem to start your own business. I know many people in Congo who have done this."

Nie often drives down from his Brazzaville office just to stare at the apartment complex that was central to a tragedy for many people, but that has drawn two countries closer together.

Rebuilding and refurbishing the buildings was completed by a team of 130 Chinese and 580 Congolese workers a little over a year ago, and residents are expected to move in any day now.

"We removed 20,000 cubic meters of rubble and rubbish from the site," Nie says. "There was also more than 20 pieces of unexploded ordnance found on site."

The first bomb was removed by building site manager Ge Fuqiu. The 50-year-old says it was the right thing to do.

"I am responsible for this site, for our Chinese and Congo workers. It was my responsibility," says Ge.

Nie believes it was this same sense of duty that resulted in 20 Chinese workers injured in the explosions voluntarily returning to work in the Congo.

Jiang Mingjun, 47, was one of them.

"I had 70 percent burns to my body," he says. "My hands and chest bones were fractured."

Jiang's back is still a mass of scar tissue, and his hearing has been permanently damaged. But this is not what hurts him most, he says.

On the day of the disaster a friend and colleague died saving Jiang's life.

"I wasn't hurt in the first explosion," he says. "I went to see if my colleague Gao Jinkui was safe. I took him by the arm; he was hurt. Then the second explosion came and blew in all the walls and windows. Mr Gao took the brunt of the explosion. He shielded me and saved my life."

Jiang, who spent months in the hospital, says he wept the first time he saw the apartments again.

But the father of one from Shandong says he came back with good reason.

"I helped finish the last month of the refurbishment. It was a good way to remember those who died. It's the best way to remember them."

Jiang struggles to hold back tears as a note of pride spikes the grief in his voice. "That building didn't just protect us; it protected the local people, too," he says.

Nie believes it is telling that the apartment complex was built and repaired by Chinese and Congolese laborers, working together.

So does Bithovenne.

The young father of two says it is partnership, not paternalism, his country needs.

"China isn't just changing Congo," he says. "China is helping Congo to change this country for ourselves."

Contact the writers through josephcatanzaro@chinadaily.com.cn

Ibata Serge Osee, area manager of Weihai International Construction Engineering.

(China Daily Africa Weekly 07/04/2014 page6)