Staff Writer
LABOUR unions have approached President Emmerson Mnangagwa begging him to urgently rein in Chinese investorsโ sustained record of inhumane labour practices.
Speaking soon after a three and half hours long meeting with Mnangagwa Tuesday, Zimbabwe Federation of Trade Unions (ZFTU) secretary general, Kenias Shamuyarira said he pleaded for stiffer measures on investors coming from Asiaโs most influential economy.
โThe other issue we discussed concerns the Chinese investors. They are not prepared to work with Zimbabweans. They are not ready for a fair deal on their investments. They come here and dehumanize workers.
โThey corrode them and they donโt abide by the laws of the land. They donโt even respect the languages and culture of the people. They just do as they wish,โ he said.
The once pro-government policy perceived trade unionistโs utterances appear to indicate a major climb down towards pro -workers issues approach.
He crushed the Southern Africaโs nation โall weather friendโ and accused government of shielding the abuses.
โIn many cases, the Chinese donโt even want to pay and they always hide behind the bipartite arrangements of government to government which I do not think itโs something that can be celebrated in this day and age.
โWe have very clear laws. Why should we go back to modern slavery?
โWe told the President that these Chinese are not just doing this on their own as they are being assisted by our own leaders in high offices. These are cartels at work, particularly the ones from the securocrats,โ said Shamuyarira.
However, the ZFTU leader said Mnangagwa was very attentive to his requests and tasked Deputy Labour Minister, Lovemore Matuke to look into the matter.
โHe also tasked labour unions to compile hard evidence on the illicit practices,โ he added.
