Shurugwi (Sulekwe) mines destroy land/environment[1]

Sino Non-Ferrous Investment Company and Jim Young[2]

Chromite mining: From 2009, Sinosteel and Tsingshan; from 2014, Ming Chang Sino Africa Mining[3]

Smelting: Nelson Holdings

Diamond mining: Anjin and Jin Ani, at Domboshva[4]

Also: Alrosa (Russia), for diamonds,[5] and Anglo-American Platinum (South Africa), for platinum.[6]

Torque Mude, “An Analysis of the Contribution of the Influx of Chinese Investors to Sustainable Production Capacity and Industrialisation in the Mining Sector in Zimbabwe in the 21st Century,” Journal of Sustainable Development in Africa, Vol. 18, No.4 (2016), at: http://www.jsd-africa.com/Jsda/Vol18No4-Fall21016/PDF/An%20Analysis%20of%20the%20Contribution%20%20of%20the%20Influx%20of%20Chinese.Torque%20Mude.pdf

A lot has been said about the involvement of Chinese miners in Zimbabwe. For instance, they have been accused of causing massive environmental degradation. From the observation made by the researcher, the issue of land degradation is true. In the Shurugwi and Zvishavane areas in the Midlands Province, huge pits and enormous hips of soil and quarry have been left when mineral resources extinct. This exposes children and livestock to danger. Health wise, the pits become breeding sites for mosquitoes thereby contributing to the increase in the rate of malaria. The hips have also made the land unsuitable for agricultural purposes of which the Zimbabwean economy depends more on agriculture than mining. Nonetheless, the issue of environmental degradation can be combated through environmental management training and awareness. In any case, pits and soil hips are expected in any mining environment.

Chinese mining companies have also been associated with abuse of workers, underpayment, late payment of salaries, tax evasion and externalisation of money. In December 2014, a Chinese smelting company called Nelson Holdings was taken to court by its sixty-nine workers for failure to pay them from January to September of that year.[7] The workers were paid a monthly salary of USD193, which is below the stipulated USD220.[8] Diamond miners such as Anjin and Jin Ani were forced to cease operations because they violated the Zimbabwe’s monetary laws when they externalised huge sums of money.

Chinese mining companies have also been accused of doing shady mineral trade deals with Zimbabwean government. On 4 December 2014, Africa Confidential reported that the Zimbabwean government privately parceled out mining concessions to Chinese companies in exchange for arms.[9] This is at the expense of economic and social development. On the contrary, European states dealings in arms with Zimbabwe are forbidden.[10] Be that as it may, there is no international law provision on arms for minerals trade. Furthermore, Zimbabwe like all other states needs to acquire arms for the preservation of the state.

Having said all that, it can be safely argued that the influx of Chinese conglomerates has contributed to industrialisation and improved production capacity in the mining sector in Zimbabwe. The contribution of these companies to industrialisation and production capacity outweighs the criticism leveled against them. Much of the criticism against Chinese companies is peddled and fomented by pro-West scholars, journalists and their equivalents. Whilst people are entitled to their opinions, it should not go without saying that Zimbabwe’s alignment to the Look East policy which includes allowing Chinese mining companies to operate in the country has recuperated the country’s political economy. Since the political survival of a state is dependent on the strength of the economy among other variables, mechanising the mining industry and improving production capacity went a long way in boosting revenue for the state.

Endnotes

[1] “ZIMBABWE: Mining industry attracts child labour as economy picks up,” The New Humanitarian (14 October 2010), at: https://www.thenewhumanitarian.org/news/2010/10/14/mining-industry-attracts-child-labour-economy-picks.

[2] Brenna Matendere and Nunurai Jena, “Coronavirus fears at Chinese-run mines,” newsday (16 March 2020), at: https://www.newsday.co.zw/2020/03/coronavirus-fears-at-chinese-run-mines/.

[3] Abigirl Khupe, “Rampant abuse at Chinese-owned mine,” CITE (3 April 2019), at: https://www.cite.org.zw/rampant-abuse-at-chinese-owned-mine/.

[4] Columbus Mavhunga, “Zimbabwean Villagers Resist Chinese Company Mining Project” [video], VOA (7 May 2019), at: https://www.voanews.com/episode/zimbabwean-villagers-resist-chinese-company-mining-project-3845116; James Thompson, “Chinese to return to Zimbabwe’s diamond fields,” The Times Live (31 March 2019), at: https://www.timeslive.co.za/news/africa/2019-03-31-chinese-to-return-to-zimbabwes-diamond-fields/.

[5] Ibid.

[6] “Zimbabwe’s platinum mine commissions smelter,” Xinhua (15 May 2019), at: http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2019-05/16/c_138064316_2.htm.

[7] “Arbitrator orders Chinese company to pay arrears,” The Source.co.zw (4 December 2014), at: http://source.co.zw/2014/12/arbitrator-orders-chinese-company-to-pay-arrears.

[8] Ibid.

[9] Arms for minerals trades exposed, Africa Confidential.com, Vol. 54, Issue 3 (2013), at: http://www.africaconfidential.com/article-preview/id/5142/Arms-for-minerals_trades_exposed.

[10] Ibid.

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