On Monday, hundreds gathered at the scene of the murder in Lusaka to pay their respects to the Chinese migrants who lost their lives. Zambians and Chinese stood side by side, wearing face masks, as they mourned the dead.
Zambian employees from the textile business said a few words, along with fellow Chinese expatriates, according to Eric Shen, the Lusaka businessman who was master of ceremonies.
According to friends, Cao and her husband had been in Zambia for about 20 years, and from their warehouse they sold textiles, bedding and clothing they imported from Nantong, their home region of China which is known for textile production.
A memorial for the Chinese victims was held on Monday this week in Lusaka.
The Zambian ambassador to China, Winnie N. Chibesakunda, told state-run tabloid the Global Times that Zambia will strengthen measures to protect the lives of Chinese living in the country. In October 2015, three Chinese people were killed in a robbery in Kitwe, and in November 2017 a Chinese national died in an armed robbery in the copperbelt.
"The government of the Republic of Zambia has instituted investigations to bring the perpetrators of this gruesome act to justice and shall endeavor to continue strengthening measures to protect the lives of Chinese living in Zambia," she stated. Zambian authorities have arrested two men and one woman on suspicion of murder.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian said that the murders were an
isolated case that "won't affect the mainstream of friendly cooperation between China and Zambia."
Shen, the Lusaka-based businessman, concluded that, "these kinds of criminal activities can happen anywhere, any place, any time in this world." He said the Chinese community was trying not to link the killings to rising anti-Chinese sentiment, in a place where many have chosen to call home.
CNN's Shawn Deng also contributed to this report.
