THE Centre for Natural Resource Governance (CNRG) has urged the government to revisit how Chinese investors operate in the country amid an increase in violent altercations between Chinese officials and locals.
The call comes after a video showing a violent confrontation between Chinese miner, Ming Chang Sino-Africa Mining Investments management, and an employee over unpaid wages went viral.
The video showed one of the firm’s senior managers , a Chinese national, brandishing a gun at the Zimbabwean employee.
However, the firm has since released a statement accusing the local employee of being insubordinate.
The matter was confirmed by the police, who are investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident.
“The first and most important response to the Gweru incident is to investigate whether Ming Chang Sino-Africa Mining Investments is properly registered to operate in Zimbabwe. If the answer is yes, there is also needed to investigate whether the company is complying with all its statutory and regulatory requirements such as paying monthly dues to NSSA [National Social Security Authority],” CNRG executive director Farai Maguwu said in a statement on Friday last week.
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“Further, since this is apparently a labour dispute, the Ministry of Labour ought to investigate the labour practices of Ming Chang Sino-Africa Mining Investments, that is, whether all workers are on contract, wages meet the national standards stipulated by the relevant Act and regulations and safety and health standards of the company.”
He said the next phase was to broaden the inquiry.
“The government sets the tone of how investors ought to behave and treat Zimbabwean citizens. Improving the ease of doing business is not the same as tolerating aggression against citizens and suspension of the rule of law,” Maguwu said.
“Government needs to be vocal in reading the rules to investors and abandon the affirmative action toward China whereby its nationals enjoy special treatment from authorities while they are brutalising local citizens.”
Critics say Chinese investors have a long history of abusing their workers, with the government often ignoring the concerns, as the Asian giant is seen as the country’s all-weather friend.
“There is also a need for a clear database of Chinese investments in Zimbabwe, giving their names, shareholders and areas of operation. This information should be available online and be accessible with the click of a button. Government must also screen Chinese nationals intending to do business in Zimbabwe,” Maguwu said.
“There are several Chinese entities operating illegally in Zimbabwe. This information is also available in parliamentary reports and Hansard. There is no self-respecting country that allows foreign nationals to come in and operate without authorisation. There must be severe consequences for operating in Zimbabwe illegally.”
Last year, CNRG petitioned Parliament to investigate Chinese labour practices in Zimbabwe, which is yet to be actioned by the Legislature.