World News | Chinese Investors Controversial Over Serious Human Rights Violations by Zimbabwean Workers

Harare [Zimbabwe]October 16 (ANI): Chinese-owned companies in Zimbabwe have been plagued by controversy over gross human rights violations and safety norms for mining workers.

According to Africa Daily, recent abuses by Chinese mine owners have once again exposed the exploitative and unethical practices of Chinese employers against locals in African countries.

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Not only is this abuse, but Chinese investors often accuse local workers of stealing and verbally and physically abusing them, a blatant violation of the law.

The Centre for Research and Development (CRD), a natural resource governance group based in Manicaland, said Chinese mining operations in Odzi were flagrant violations of laws regulating health and safety issues.

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A Chinese gold mining company operating on the outskirts of Odzi in Zimbabwe’s Mutare district was recently accused of abusing workers and ignoring the country’s labor laws and regulations, according to Africa Daily.

Notably, the Chinese company, registered as Odzi Resources Zimbabwe Private Limited, operates several gold mines across the country, including Mashava, Mbalabala, Bulawayo, Kwekwe and Mazowe.

In another incident, the Zimbabwe Diamond and United Minerals Workers Union (ZDAMWU) (September 19) called on the Chinese embassy in Zimbabwe to intervene and ensure that Chinese investors abide by the country’s laws.

In recent years, China has provided funding and loans for many infrastructure projects in Africa, including Zimbabwe’s new parliament.

Chinese investments in African countries have increased over time, mainly to develop their natural resources to meet the raw material needs of their industries. But it paid little attention to the social and environmental impacts of the host country, according to Africa Daily.

Former worker Tatenda Chikwanha, who claims Chinese employers abused workers at the Odzi mine, was recently fired after speaking out against the rampant abuse.

Workers were not given protective clothing, decent meals and accommodation while on duty, he added. Many workers are also unable to speak to authorities about poor working conditions for fear of being victimized, according to Africa Daily.

According to the Zimbabwe Environmental Lawyers Association (ZELA), wages are often low and in many cases not paid on time. If someone tries to exercise their rights as workers and asks them the consequences of being beaten or shot.

Nearly 40 workers employed at the Chinese-controlled mine near Doneni in the Kadoma Muzvezvi region, who have been without pay for months, say they are being treated as slaves by their owners. They also claimed they were forced to work in the mines without any protective clothing, exposing them to injuries and other health hazards, according to Africa Daily.

According to a 2016 report by the Brookings Institution, there are at least 10,000 Chinese nationals in Zimbabwe, many of whom work in mining, telecommunications and construction. However, Chinese-owned companies are notorious for abusing workers.

In April 2019, workers at a mining company went on strike for being paid less than the law, while requests for personal protective equipment went unanswered. Workers have complained that this exposes them to harmful fumes and increases the risk of losing limbs or being burned, according to Africa Daily. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from the Syndicated News feed, the body of the content may not have been modified or edited by LatestLY staff)