NESTLED amid rolling mountains 30 kilometres north of Hwange, Zimbabwe's coal mining hub, lies a graveyard of abandoned mining equipment.
Excavators and trailers now rest on scarred landscapes, once untouched but now resembling chaotic gold panning sites. The Chinese concessionaire responsible for this environmental carnage has long since abandoned the area, leaving behind heaps of exposed coal seams and unreclaimed gullies — a stark reminder of what happens when regulatory oversight falters.
While not all Chinese investors are rogue, the flagrant disregard for Zimbabwean laws by some, coupled with an attitude of arrogance and defiance, is deeply troubling. This is why there has been widespread anger across the country, particularly among villagers who find themselves at the mercy of ruthless Chinese corporations.
These firms, driven by profit, leave devastation in their wake as they exploit Zimbabwe’s resources with little regard for the law or the environment. Last October, a standoff erupted in Mutoko, where villagers were threatened with displacement by Chinese investors hunting for lithium.
Despite a court order to vacate, the investors returned with renewed force, claiming they had been granted exclusive rights by the Office of the President and Cabinet. Similarly, in May 2022, the Zimbabwe Independent reported that some Chinese firms had defied a ban on mining in the Mavuradonha Wilderness — a world heritage site — threatening to destroy its delicate ecosystem.
Prior to that, another Chinese company clashed with conservationists as it sought to mine coal in Hwange National Park, one of the world’s most treasured wildlife reserves. These are just a few examples of the shocking disregard for laws and policies by certain Chinese investors. The brazen disregard of laws and policies is shocking.
Zimbabweans rarely face such conflicts with investors from other countries; this troubling pattern seems unique to some Chinese firms. Only last week, the Independent reported a new dispute in Norton, where another Chinese investor faced backlash from residents over plans to establish a gypsum mine near the Knowe community.
Zimbabwe is genuinely open for business and urgently needs investment to revitalise its struggling economy. However, the country must not be compelled to compromise its laws to appease investors who act with impunity. Protecting the environment and safeguarding the well-being of current and future generations should be non-negotiable.
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Failure to do so will have dire consequences, and it is imperative that authorities uphold the law when dealing with multinational corporations. This firm stance, if clearly communicated, will not deter investment. On the contrary, it will attract investors who respect Zimbabwe’s laws and are committed to sustainable development. At the same time, Chinese investors must take a hard look at their conduct. They alone have sparked the discontent seen in a country that has welcomed investors from around the world.
Zimbabweans do not harbour animosity toward Chinese investors; rather, they are concerned about the destructive approach some have taken to resource exploitation.
