Staff writer
The President of National Mine Workers Union of Zimbabwe, Kurebwa Javangwe Nhomboka on Monday, (8 September 2025 )handed over a petition letter to the Speaker of Parliament, Jacob Mudenda over alleged disregard of labour and environmental laws in the country.
In the letter, National Mine Workers Union of Zimbabwe called on parliament of Zimbabwe to craft laws that ensure that the Chinese adhere to local labour laws and stop land degradation in mining communities across the country.
Read the petition letter signed by Nhomboka.
“We are writing this petition letter after taking into consideration the increasing number of workers abuse and blatant disregard of labour laws by most Chinese nationals on Zimbabwe mining workers who are our constituency we represent,”said Nhomboka.
“The research we have done as a trade union has revealed that some Chinese management in the mining sector are exposing local workers to slavery working conditions.
Below is the list of some of the companies which we found to be engaging in unfair labour practices across the country.
1 Rundu Mine Chegutu
2 Dinson Mine Manhidze Mashonaland East
3 Dinson Mine Mutare
4 Dinson Mine Hwange
5 Young Africa Shurugwi
6 Leview Mine Penhalonga
7 Lang Chang Odzi
8 KMC Harare
9 Best trade Muzondiwa Zvishavane
10Best Trade Marishonga Shurugwi
11 Goldmore Nyathi Bulawayo
12 Ching She kwekwe
13 Ndarama ching
14 DGL nyathi Bulawayo
15 Sino Ferry Shurugwi
16Ladville Shurugwi
17 Chengete ching Boterengwa Shurugwi
18 Best Copy Lalapanzi
19 Zimbabwe coking coal Company
20 Ming Chang Makaha
21 Ming Chang Kwekwe
22 Ming Chang Mashava.
23.Royal Palour Investments owned by Ivene, Acturus.”
Nhomboka said according to the Union’s findings, the Chinese are underpaying mining workers and are also compromising their health and safety.
“We have instances where workers in the sector are being under paid, working under inhuman conditions, the Chinese employers in most instances not giving employees the requisite protective material, thereby compromising their health and safety- a yardstick to Zimbabwe’s Labour law.
“What irks us most as a trade union is that there have been reports across the mining sector where workers are beaten, dehumanized, threatened and even killed upon asking for their wages dues.They also don’t allow workers to join Trade Unions which is violation of Zimbabwean Labour Law chapter 28.1, National constitution which guarantees freedom of association to every citizen and fundamentally violation of international labour standards.This has been reported in the local media.”
Nhomboka urged parliament to investigate violation of Zimbabwe labour laws and take appropriate measures including crafting of a Statutory Instrument.
“We are therefore requesting your esteemed office to investigate violation of Zimbabwe laws by these Chinese officials in the mining sector and take appropriate measures.
We believe that this will promote industrial harmony and economic growth in the country.
“We believe workers are the backbone of this nation if they can’t breathe we’ll be left with no option except to defend our zones of autonomy as employees and as a union.
We are therefore urging parliament to lobby for the crafting of a Statutory Instrument that ensures that Chinese investors adhere to local labour laws and also put an end to the rampant environmental degradation left by Chinese mining activities in communities.
“The Chinese investors don’t respect our environmental laws, they don’t respect Environmental Management Agent (EMA) crafted regulations, leaving the environment in a bad state through blatant land degradation.
“Environmental Management Agency Management Act (Chapter 20 :27),the principal legislation for environmental protection and the sustainable management of natural resources, establishing the Environmental Management Agency (EMA) to administer the Act. The Act provides for the prevention of pollution and environmental degradation, the formulation of environmental plans and standards, and the implementation of environmental impact assessments.
But from our findings, it shows that the Act is very effective when targeting errant local investors, with the Chinese investors being treated with kind gloves in the name of promoting foreign direct investment.”
Nhomboka said communities where mining activities are taking place have adversely affecting mainly women and children, including pregnant mothers.
“Dust from ore-hauling trucks smothers homes, water sources, crops, and grazing fields.
Villagers including (children and pregnant woman)are suffering respiratory illnesses, livestock is dying, and children risk their lives crossing roads clouded with dust.
“For instance in Goromonzi, Shengxiang Investments openly defied government shutdown orders, exposing the weakness of our enforcement mechanisms.
From Manicaland to Midlands, reports echo the same story — displacement, poisoned rivers, deforestation, and livelihoods destroyed.
“Even Members of Parliament, local councillors and traditional leaders have raised concerns, but their pleas are met with arrogance and silence from these companies, shielded by the lure of foreign direct investment.”
Nhomboka said in February this year, National Mine Workers Union of Zimbabwe wrote a petition letter to the Chinese Embassy calling for a redress but received no feedback.
“In February we wrote a petition letter to the Chinese Embassy seeking a redress on the above issues we have raised as a trade union, ,but regrettably, we never got any feedback until now.
We will be grateful if you assist us in finding a lost lasting solution to the issues we have raised.”