Chinese mine manager at the Makanga mine in Bindura, near Harare, Zimbabwe, was recorded committing an appalling act of violence against two local miners. The incident, which rapidly gained attention on social media, involved the manager tying the miners’ hands to an excavator bucket, lifting it, and then whipping them as other employees watched helplessly.
This recent episode is not an isolated incident but part of a disturbing trend of violence by Chinese employers against their African workers in Zimbabwe. Just two months prior, another Chinese mine supervisor, Cai Yulong, fatally shot a local in Gokwe and injured another, accusing them of theft.
The Zimbabwe Miners Federation (ZMF) described the Bindura incident as “terrifying, vile, inhumane, and savage.” The organization has vowed not to remain idle and plans to report the brutality to the police, demanding prompt action.
Historically, the relationship between Chinese employers and their local African workers has been fraught with controversy. Reports of torture, intimidation, and abuse have surfaced over the years, with most complaints being suppressed by authorities. However, there have been cases where Asian managers have been prosecuted.
Two years ago, in a case strikingly similar to the Bindura incident, a Chinese employer in Rwanda subjected two miners to severe torture. The Rwandan court sentenced the employer to 20 years in prison, reflecting a severe stance against such violations. Following this, the Chinese embassy in Kigali issued a statement urging Chinese nationals to abide by local laws and regulations.
The Chinese diplomatic mission in Namibia also took steps to curb such abuses by publishing a list of behaviors that Chinese nationals should avoid, including bribing police officers and shooting employees.
A 2021 report by the Business and Human Rights Resource Centre highlighted 181 allegations of human rights abuses connected to Chinese investments in Africa from 2013 to 2020, with the most incidents recorded in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Uganda, and Zimbabwe.
These ongoing incidents underline the urgent need for stronger regulatory oversight and international cooperation to ensure that foreign enterprises respect human rights and local laws.