KWEKWE Central legislator Masango Matambanadzo (Zanu PF) yesterday described some Chinese nationals working in Zimbabwe as “fake” and only interested in plundering the country’s resources.
OBEY MANAYITI/ NQOBILE BHEBHE
Matambanadzo said he had been in China where he interacted with “genuine” Chinese who are different from those in Zimbabwe.
The Kwekwe Central MP was among a group of legislators who early this year got stranded in the Asian country after missing the plane back home while on shopping spree.
Matambanadzo made the remarks during a Zimbabwe Environmental Law Association-organised Alternative Mining Indaba in Bulawayo when delegates were registering their displeasure at the mismanagement of some Community Share Ownership Trusts.
“We have to vet the Chinese who come to invest here,” said Matambanadzo.
“Others are just here to plunder resources. We should investigate where they are coming from and where their money is coming from.
“Some Chinese investors in Zimbabwe have partnerships with our ‘enemies’ such as the US and Britain. They are used as fronts. China is our best friend and we should support the Look East Policy as the President (Robert Mugabe) has said, but we should vet their investments.
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“Maybe some of them are fronting companies for Americans, therefore, we have to be careful because some are mafia. Real Chinese invest in companies they operate in, but not some of these we have here,” he said amid applause from delegates.
Chief Zimunya had no kind words for the Chinese working in Chiadzwa saying they are a source of social problems in the area.
“I heard that they just relocate people from Chiadzwa to Arda Transau without the knowledge of the chief and they don’t even have the courtesy to inform us,” he said.
“They just desecrate graves and leave remains of people in the open for about 2-3 years. Now people are facing problems in that area and we can’t do anything to avert the suffering because we were not officially informed. The situation is so disturbing and personally I am not happy with the way they conduct their business,” said Chief Zimunya.
