Zambia: Gun charge mine bosses skip bail

A ZAMBIAN judge has issued arrest warrants for two Chinese coal mine managers after they failed to appear in court on accusations of firing shots at striking workers.

Xiao Li Shan, 48, and Wu Jiu Hua, 46, have been charged with 12 counts of attempted murder after firing on workers. Nearly a dozen miners were injured on 15 October. The pair were released on 6,900 bail in October.

When bail was granted, there were public fears that the pair may return to China instead of facing trial, as China invests billions in Zambia.

Magistrate Jacob Mbolela said arrest warrants have also been issued for two Chinese diplomats who signed their bail papers, acting as guarantors.

After October's shooting, the Chinese embassy called it "an isolated incident". It said three Chinese nationals had also been shot and the incident led to "massive equipment damages to the mine property".