More than 8,000 jobs have been created in Zambia as a result of two economic zones set up by Chinese enterprises, the Lusaka Times reports.

Steven Lindunda, corporate affairs manager at the Zambia-China Economic and Trade Corporation Zone (ZCCZ), revealed there are 41 companies that invested in the economic zone in Chambishi and 10 that invested in Lusaka.

Firms which were mostly Chinese had injected US$2bn in investment into the two facilities as of the end of last year.

In order to develop infrastructure in the two economic zones, the ZCCZ spent an overall US$200M.

Mr.Lindunda went on to say that although many companies been eager to invest in the zones, high electricity tariffs and lack of tax holidays for investors had been off-putting.