Harare, 14 October 2025
The Center for Natural Resource Governance (CNRG) takes note of the statement issued yesterday by the Chinese Embassy in Harare titled “Important Notice to Chinese Nationals: A Reminder on Investment and Business Operations in Zimbabwe.” The advisory offers important guidance to Chinese investors operating in Zimbabwe, particularly emphasizing legal compliance, community engagement, and environmental stewardship.
As an organization at the forefront of researching and documenting the impacts of mining on communities and ecosystems across Zimbabwe, CNRG welcomes the Embassy’s acknowledgment of the importance of due diligence, adherence to national laws, and respect for local customs and communities. These principles are crucial for building equitable and sustainable partnerships between foreign investors and the people of Zimbabwe.
However, CNRG notes that the Embassy’s statement also highlights persistent gaps in accountability and oversight that continue to fuel tensions between Chinese mining companies and local communities.
Over the past decade, CNRG has led efforts to investigate and document the environmental, social, and economic effects of mining in Zimbabwe. Our research in provinces such as Manicaland, Mashonaland West, Midlands, Masvingo, and Matabeleland consistently reveals that many foreign mining operations, including those involving Chinese capital, occur in environments that circumvent regulation, lack transparency, and bribe officials to weaken their oversight role.
CNRG notes that the Embassy’s statement also acknowledges that corruption is rife in Zimbabwe, hence it calls on Chinese nations to “avoid involvement in any ventures that might lead to controversies or disputes.” We interpret this call as an instruction to avoid involvement in corrupt deals that undermine business ethics and the integrity of Chinese nationals.
The statement makes it clear that compliance with Zimbabwe’s laws is a non-negotiable foundation of all business practices, adding that other than acting in self-defense, no one must take the law into their hands, including resorting to violence and illegal use of firearms during disputes.
We add that the shooting of Fungai Nhau, which has prompted this response, is not an isolated incident but a growing scourge of criminal activities by Chinese nationals that have gone unpunished. Their quick resort to the use of firearms against unarmed Zimbabwean citizens has led to a national debate on how a country with such strict gun laws is allowing so many dangerous foreign nationals to acquire guns. This propensity to violence and the impunity they seemingly enjoy has led to a rise in anti-Chinese resentment throughout Zimbabwe.
CNRG acknowledges that whilst the statement is a giant step in the right direction, more actions are needed to rebuild trust between Chinese nationals and Zimbabwean citizens. CNRG calls for improved dialogue between the Chinese embassy and affected communities. We are cognizant of the fact that much responsibility to reform the extractive sector rests with the government of Zimbabwe.
We therefore urge both the Government of Zimbabwe and the Chinese Embassy to take the following steps to operationalize the commitments outlined in the Embassy’s notice:
- Establish a Transparent Grievance Mechanism: The Chinese Embassy should move a step further and establish a dedicated grievance channel for affected communities, civil society organizations, and local authorities to raise legitimate complaints regarding Chinese mining operations. This mechanism must have a reasonable response timeframe and a clear process for investigation and redress.
- Strengthen Oversight through ZIDA: The Zimbabwe Investment and Development Agency (ZIDA) should ensure that all Chinese investments are subject to full disclosure, public consultation, and continuous monitoring. Investment licenses must be contingent upon demonstrable compliance with environmental, social, and labor laws. We urge the agency to extend the scope of the Investor Grievance Redress Mechanism (IGRM) to allow communities, CSOs, and stakeholders to flag and report violations by investors.
- Operationalize the Mining Cadastre System: The Government of Zimbabwe must expedite the operationalization of the mining cadastre system and include a publicly accessible database of all mining corporations. This will promote transparency, curb illicit activities, and allow citizens to track ownership, production, and revenue flows.
- Promote Responsible Investment Practices: Chinese investors must align their operations with both Zimbabwean law and international standards such as the principles of the Africa Mining Vision, UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, and OECD Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Supply Chains of Minerals from Conflict-Affected and High-Risk Areas.
- Building trust with communities requires more than compliance; it demands genuine respect, dialogue, and shared benefits.
CNRG remains committed to engaging constructively with the Chinese Embassy, the Government of Zimbabwe, and other stakeholders to promote a transparent, accountable, and rights-respecting mining sector. Responsible investment is not only good for communities; it is also essential for the long-term stability of Zimbabwe’s investment environment and for China’s reputation as a global development partner.