Zimbabwe Miners Federation Cracks Down On Chinese Miners Abusing Their Workers

The president of the Zimbabwe Miners Federation (ZMF), Henrietta Rushwaya, has raised the alarm over certain Chinese miners who are abusing their workers.

Speaking with palpable emotion at the recent Mine Entra exhibition in Bulawayo, Rushwaya painted a grim picture of the realities faced by many local, small-scale miners. She asserted that the community is enduring profound suffering, which threatens to destabilise the entire sector.

“As a federation, we are deeply troubled by the conduct of some foreign investors, specifically certain Chinese nationals, towards our members,” Rushwaya stated. “Our people are being subjected to abuse and are even losing their lives in the most callous manner. We are a people who cherish peace and abide by the law, but we cannot stand by while our fellow Zimbabweans are being killed on their own soil.”

The ZMF president revealed that the emotional toll on the mining communities is immense, a sentiment she conveyed powerfully. “We are bleeding inside,” she confessed, highlighting the deep-seated anguish felt by many artisanal miners who work in remote areas, often with little protection.

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Zimbabwe Miners Federation Cracks Down On Chinese Miners Abusing Their Workers

Rushwaya issued a stark warning to the authorities, suggesting that the government’s perceived inaction could have severe consequences. She indicated that the patience of hundreds of thousands of artisanal miners is wearing thin, and their frustration could boil over into direct action.

“It is not our desire to see a revolution emerge from the small-scale mining sector, particularly concerning these foreign entities,” Rushwaya remarked. However, she added a chillingly pragmatic note, saying, “Those who are out in the bush, who are facing these conditions daily, understand just how unpleasant the situation could become if these abuses are allowed to persist.”

This warning comes despite the sector’s continued productivity. Rushwaya noted that gold deliveries from all producers had reached an impressive 33 tonnes by the end of September, a testament to the miners’ discipline even in the face of rising tensions.

Chinese Embassy Speaks Up Against Abuse

The growing discord has not gone entirely unnoticed by diplomatic channels. The Chinese embassy in Harare recently took the unusual step of issuing a detailed advisory to its citizens operating within Zimbabwe. The document urged strict compliance with local statutes and a respectful approach to communities.

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The embassy strongly encouraged Chinese businesses to “build trust through community and environmental stewardship,” and to actively promote fair labour practices. It further advised,

“Act as a partner in Zimbabwe’s development. Corporate social responsibility initiatives are strongly encouraged as visible expressions of goodwill.”

While President Emmerson Mnangagwa has spoken generally about investor conduct, specific enforcement against alleged abuses remains a point of contention. Communities, particularly in areas like Mutoko, continue to report environmental degradation and a lack of tangible benefits from the mining operations on their land.