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Zimbabweans accuse Chinese investors of degrading environment

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BY KITSEPILE NYATHI

Zimbabweans are calling out Chinese investors whom they accuse of degrading the environment where they have established businesses.

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China has become Zimbabwe’s largest source of investment under the Emmerson Mnangagwa leadership.

Zimbabwe Investment and Development Agency’s 2023 annual figures show that 369 licences were issued to Chinese investors last year, with a projected investment value of $3.93 billion.

The Chinese investors accounted for 40 percent of the projected value of new investment for the southern African country.

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Bilateral trade between the two countries reached $3.1 billion in 2023, a 29.9 increase from the previous year, according to China Customs statistics.

Chinese companies are active in various sectors such as energy and power, mining, manufacturing, agriculture, construction and services.

Beijing has also poured billions of dollars into Zimbabwe’s infrastructure where it has built airports, power stations, and dams and even donated a Parliament building.

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But Zimbabwean authorities are accused of looking the other way as the investors disregard environmental laws, including conservation of forests and pollution of water bodies.

A report by the Centre for Natural Resource Governance (CNRG), a research and advocacy organisation, says conflicts between Chinese investors and local residents, especially in the mining areas, are getting out of hand.

The “Investments or Plunder: An Assessment of the Impacts of Chinese Investments in Zimbabwe’s Extractive Sector”report claims that Chinese mining ventures have led to widespread environmental degradation, disregard for cultural rights of host communities and violation of labour laws, often with impunity.

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The report alleges Chinese investors are taking advantage of President Mnangagwa administration’s push to attract investment in the mining sector, which has seen relaxation of policies and less monitoring.

“These policies, which are heavily influenced by political considerations, have facilitated unchecked extractivism, often at the expense of environmental sustainability and the dignity of local communities,” says the report.

“There is substantial evidence indicating minimal regulation and oversight of mining operations as government institutions tasked with these responsibilities are often reluctant to intervene due to political implication.”

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Zimbabwe’s mining sector contributes about 12 percent of the country’s GDP and 80 percent of exports.

Chinese companies have in recent years invested heavily in lithium mines and are also exploiting gold, diamonds, platinum, coal, chrome and nickel.

“Evidence on the ground shows a widening rift between Chinese nationals and their Zimbabwean employees and host communities,” the report said.

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“Increasingly, ordinary Zimbabweans are accusing China of exhibiting colonial traits. Videos have emerged of Chinese nationals treating their Zimbabwean employees in a cruel, inhuman and degrading manner. Labour unions and civil society organisations have repeatedly raised concerns over human rights abuses in Chinese enterprises.”

In July, Zimbabwe deported two Chinese nationals after a viral video showed them assaulting two mine employees.

The two were tied to a bucket of the front-end loader before it was lifted with them hanging by their hands as punishment for allegedly stealing diesel.

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CNRG said relations between Chinese nationals and locals in the coal mining town of Hwange had seen police set up a complaints desk specifically to handle issues involving business operations from the Asian country.

Some 13 coal mining companies from China that are operating in the area are accused of fuelling pollution and environmental degradation.

Residents have repeatedly petitioned Parliament to enact legislation that could curb the malpractices by the coal miners and staged multiple demonstrations to no avail.

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“Whilst China has defended its growing influence in Zimbabwe as a testament to the longstanding historical ties between the two countries dating back to the liberation struggle, this narrative is in contrast to the growing public sentiments against Chinese investment in Zimbabwe,” the report added.

“Local communities have not been meaningfully consulted regarding Chinese-led projects and the entry of Chinese-owned companies has been met with significant community resistance. These conflicts are likely to persist until the rights of communities are respected and their meaningful participation in the governance of natural resources is assured.”

CNRG said the majority of the people it interviewed for the research believed that the relationship between Zimbabwe and China was “highly exploitative” and highly favoured Beijing’s economic interests.

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Last year, Zimbabwean labour unions wrote to the government demanding that it investigate Chinese employers, whom they said had become notorious for torture, beatings, gender-based violence, low wages and a host of other labour transgressions.

The Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions accused government officials of shielding abusive Chinese employers.

Chinese ambassador to Zimbabwe Zhou Ding said the accusations are often exaggerated.

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“I would like to reiterate that the Chinese government consistently requires Chinese enterprises overseas to abide by the laws and policies of the host countries, including Zimbabwe,” he said.

 “According to the Zimbabwean government’s assessment and our embassy’s observation, the majority of Chinse companies operating in Zimbabwe are law-abiding and conscientious corporate citizens welcomed by the government and local people. Indeed, there are very few Chinese investors having some problems in their operations, but they do not represent the whole picture of Chinese investment and should not be used to negate Chinese companies’ contribution to the development of Zimbabwe.”

SOURCE: THE EASTAFRICAN

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Hwange

Buffaloes wreak havoc in Victoria Falls, residents living in fear

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BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI 

Residents of Mkhosana in Victoria Falls are living in fear as a large herd of buffaloes continues to invade their communities, destroying vegetable gardens and posing a threat to human life.

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According to eyewitnesses, the buffaloes, estimated to be around 30-40, have been encroaching into the communities since June, with some residents reporting that they have been vandalizing their gardens as early as 8 PM.

David Mpofu

David Mpofu, a resident of Mkhosana, expressed his concern, saying, “We are living in fear because these buffaloes come every day, destroying our vegetable gardens. We want the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority rangers to take action and chase them away.”

Trymore Ndolo

The Victoria Falls Combined Residents Association member, Trymore Ndolo, who was also at the scene on Monday night close to the CBZ houses, expressed frustration, stating that the buffaloes are becoming a menace and encroaching into high-density residential areas.

The issue of human-wildlife conflict is escalating due to the ongoing drought, with elephants also encroaching into communities in search of water and food.

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Residents are crying foul as their source of food is being destroyed.

Last week, a large herd of buffaloes even invaded the Victoria Falls City Council water works premises, taking security guards by surprise and forcing them to hide.

In Mkhosana, the  buffaloes refused to budge until Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority officials arrived and chased them away.

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Residents are calling for urgent action to address the situation and ensure their safety and security.

 

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Schools in Tsholotsho destroyed by heavy rains, learners left conducting lessons under the trees

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BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI 

Last week’s heavy rains have left a trail of destruction in Tsholotsho, with two schools severely affected.

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Nembe Primary School and Nembe Secondary School suffered significant infrastructure damage, displacing learners and prompting calls for urgent assistance.

 

According to Ward 22 Councillor Nkululeko Ndebele, the rains destroyed wall blocks, scattered blanks everywhere, and damaged walls at Nembe Primary School.

“The wall block of grade three and four was destroyed, and the office of the staff, administration block, and solar panels were also damaged,” he said.

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At Nembe Secondary School, the block used by Form One and Two students was destroyed, leaving learners without classrooms.

“Currently, the children are learning under the trees because no action has been taken,” Councillor Ndebele lamented.

The District Schools Inspector visited the site on Monday to assess the damage, and a further visit is scheduled for today to determine the extent of the destruction.

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Councillor Ndebele appealed for international assistance, citing the economic situation and drought ravaging the communities.

“Parents cannot afford to rebuild the schools, and we need help from anyone willing to assist,” he said.

Ndebele says the schools, built in the 1950s, have never been maintained, and their age has contributed to the extent of the damage.

“We are getting into the rain season, and we urgently need help to rebuild and restore these schools,” Councillor Ndebele emphasized.

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Bubi

Four months without answers: Mother pleads for help finding son

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BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI

Try Ndiweni, a 38-year-old man from Bulawayo, has been missing since August 20. His mother, Catherine Ndiweni, is desperate for any information that can lead to his safe return.

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“He showed the signs of not being well but on the Tuesday of his disappearance, l had just come back from the farm in Bubi, and when l asked why he was not answering the phone as l away, he started to search for it from his jacket accusing us of stealing it. I tried to calm him down, but he was persistent.”

His mother explained that Try has a history of mental health challenges and has been seeing psychiatrists since 2005

“We suspect that he had stopped taking his medication recently, and I’m worried about his well-being,” she said.

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On the night of his disappearance, she said, “We were all asleep, and when we woke up, he was gone. He took his identity certificates and carpentry academic papers with him but left all his other belongings behind.”

The family suspects that Try might have crossed into Botswana, where he has resided before. However, efforts to locate him have been unsuccessful so far.

She is worried about her son’s safety and well-being.

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“I’m worried sick about my son,” she said.

“I am also unwell, l have hypertension and diabetes so l thought he was following the instructions. I do not know what triggered him to stop, but as a family we are very much worried because he has never disappeared.

We ask ourselves day and night where he vanished because his twin brother attimes go quite and asks me where his brother is, what is he eating, bathing, what he is wearing, where is he sleeping and myself everyday around 2AM, l lose sleep and whenever l eat l think about him, but l hold on to God to answer my prayers because l do not know where he went.”

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Ndiweni is described as light in complexion, 1.5-1.7 meters tall, with a moderate build and bald hair. He was last seen wearing a red t-shirt and black shoes.

If you have any information about Try’s  whereabouts, please contact his mother Catherine Ndiweni at [‪+263 71 315 6336‬]

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