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Article

24 Jan 2025

Author:
Kitsepile Nyathi, The East African

Zimbabwe: Trade unions raise alarm over the increase in violent confrontations between Chinese nationals and their local employees during labour disputes

"Zimbabwe arrests Chinese national who pointed gun at employee" 24 January 2025

Zimbabwean trade unions have raised alarm over an increase in violent confrontations between Chinese nationals and their local employees during labour disputes. This followed two shooting incidents in one week. And the unions argue Chinese employers have become notorious for labour violations such as torture, beatings, gender-based violence, low wages and a host of other violations. On Thursday, January 23, a Chinese national was arrested for allegedly shooting an employee at a mine in Filabusi, Matabeleland South Province, during a labour dispute.

…In the first incident, Mthandazo Sibanda, 20, was shot with a pistol by the unidentified Chinese national for allegedly stealing a gold dump on January 22. A day earlier, Kholwani Dube (38) was arrested for stabbing his Chinese supervisor. The employee is heard repeatedly shouting “I want my money, I want my money, shoot me” while moving the excavator aimlessly. Chinese nationals are seen confronting him with one of them pointing a gun at the employee before he is eventually subdued. The Chinese company accused the local media of misrepresenting facts around the incident to smear investments from that country. “We also regret to state that some publications rushed to publish inaccurate versions of the incident in what appears to be yet another attack on Chinese investors in Zimbabwe using false information,” the firm said in a statement. “We also take this opportunity to urge the media to verify facts and report accurately without bias.

“Our company is a law-abiding citizen and remains committed to best labour and business practices which employ legal conflict resolution strategies.” The Centre for Natural Resources Governance (CNRG), a non-governmental organisation that represents communities affected by extractive industries, said the violent confrontations were not isolated incidents. “At the heart of the increasing tension between Chinese nationals and Zimbabwean workers are poor labour practices, including meagre wages, lack of contracts, and gross human rights abuses,” CNRG said. “Similar incidents have been reported in the past, including a case where two Chinese nationals were deported for abusing a mine worker at Makanga Mine in Bindura. “Labour unions have condemned such incidents, emphasising the need to protect workers' rights and prevent human rights abuses.”