By Staff Reporter
BULAWAYO โ Zimbabwe Miners Federation (ZMF) president Henrietta Rushwaya has accused some Chinese nationals of killing, abusing, and exploiting small-scale miners, warning that the government risks a revolt in the gold sector if it fails to rein in the abuses.
Henrietta Rushwaya who is related to President Mnangagwa and she is the sister of Martin Rushwaya, the Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet, said small-scale miners were โbleeding insideโ as they endured mounting violence and mistreatment at the hands of some foreign investors.
โAs small-scale miners, we are not happy with how foreigners, particularly the Chinese, are treating us. Our people are being killed and abused in cold blood,โ Rushwaya said during the Mine Entra exhibition in Bulawayo last week.
โThis is totally unacceptable. We are peace-loving, law-abiding citizens, but we will not allow our fellow miners to be killed on their own soil.โ
She warned that continued government inaction risked igniting a backlash from the countryโs hundreds of thousands of artisanal miners, who form the backbone of Zimbabweโs gold output.
โWe donโt want a revolution to come from the small-scale mining sector, especially when foreigners are concerned,โ Rushwaya said.
โThose out in the bush know how unpleasant things could become if these abuses continue unchecked.โ
Rushwaya said miners had remained disciplined and productive despite the tensions, with gold deliveries from both small- and large-scale producers reaching 33 tonnes by the end of September.
Relations between local and Chinese miners have deteriorated in recent years amid reports of violent clashes, assaults, and labour disputes.
The Chinese embassy in Harare recently issued a rare and strongly worded advisory to its nationals operating in Zimbabwe, urging them to comply with local laws, respect communities, and avoid involvement in disputes or environmentally harmful practices.
The advisory urged Chinese businesses to โbuild trust through community and environmental stewardshipโ, promoting fair labour practices and compliance with environmental laws.
โAct as a partner in Zimbabweโs development,โ the embassy said. โCorporate social responsibility initiatives are strongly encouraged as visible expressions of goodwill. Such proactive efforts foster mutual trust and strengthen community relations.โ
The government has repeatedly promised tighter regulation of foreign investors in the sector, but enforcement has remained weak.
Speaking during the Zanu PF annual conference which ended last Saturday, President Emmerson Mnangagwa did not mention the Chinese in particular, as he told supporters: โAs we welcome investors in our jurisdiction, we expect that they will adhere to the constitution and laws, while also respecting our people, customs and culture.โ
Chinese mining operations have also faced criticism for environmental damage, particularly in Mutoko, where villagers blame blasting for cracked homes, destroyed farmland, and polluted water sources. Communities say they have seen little benefit from the exploitation of their resources.
In some cases, miners who have raised grievances have faced brutal retaliation. In 2020, two workers were allegedly shot and wounded by their Chinese employer after complaining about unpaid wages.
