This study critically examines the Chinese mining operations in Zimbabwe, and their impacts on hosting communities. The research investigates key aspects essential to any mining enterprise, including environmental impact, labor rights, and the observance of the sociocultural rights of host communities. The report highlights how Chinese mining ventures have led to widespread environmental degradation, disregard for the cultural rights of host communities, and, in many cases, the violation of the country’s labor laws, often with apparent impunity.
The report concludes that Zimbabwe’s mining landscape is undergoing significant changes. The evolving nature of the mining sector, the discovery of new mineral sites in the rural areas, and new relationships with foreign companies and the rent seeking nature of the state
makes this research an ongoing exercise. With the preliminary evidence suggesting that Chinese mining investments are failing to deliver the expected social-economic outcomes, particularly for host communities, the notion that the China- Zimbabwe relationship is mutually beneficial is challenged.
Evidence on the ground shows a widening rift between Chinese nationals and their Zimbabwean employees and host communities. 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 organizations have repeatedly raised concerns over human rights abuses in Chinese enterprises. Some have even appealed to the Ambassador of China and the Government of Zimbabwe to intervene. So bad is the human rights situation in Chinese enterprises that in Hwange the Zimbabwe Republic Police have opened a complaints desk against Chinese business operations.
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.
Although the Chinese Ambassador to Zimbabwe believes that the mining sector is the engine for growth,”2 majority of Zimbabwean citizens interviewed in this study believe that the relationship between the two countries is highly exploitative and favours the economic
interest of China at the expense of Zimbabwe.