“The Chinese companies bring their workers from China because they do not trust African people,” Gilbert explained. “They think we will cheat them, yet they are in our country making money for themselves.” I asked why Congolese construction companies weren’t doing the road work instead of the Chinese. “Chinese companies make a bid lower than anyone else to get the contract. They will pay their workers small wages to complete the project. The Chinese have no constraints on human rights, so other companies cannot compete with them.”
