Innocent Sibonginkosi Ncube | Zim GBC News
BULAWAYO – The president of the Zimbabwe Miners Federation (ZMF), Henrietta Rushwaya, has issued a stark warning that the government could face a severe backlash from the gold mining sector if it fails to curb widespread abuses, including killings and exploitation, allegedly perpetrated by some Chinese mining operators.
Speaking at the Mine Entra exhibition held recently in Bulawayo, Rushwaya voiced the deep-seated anguish of small-scale miners, stating they are “bleeding inside” from continued violence and mistreatment.
“As small-scale miners, we are not happy with how foreigners, particularly the Chinese, are treating us. Our people are being killed and abused in cold blood,” Rushwaya declared.
“This is totally unacceptable. We are peace-loving, law-abiding citizens, but we will not allow our fellow miners to be killed on their own soil.”
Her warning comes amid a growing dossier of documented incidents. Reports from various mining communities detail severe labour abuses, including assaults, forced labour in unsafe pits, and the use of attack dogs on local miners. In one high-profile case, a Chinese mine manager in Shamva was alleged to have shot and seriously injured a local employee following a dispute over unpaid wages.
Rushwaya cautioned that government inaction could trigger a revolt from the hundreds of thousands of artisanal miners who form the backbone of the country’s gold production.
“We don’t want a revolution to come from the small-scale mining sector, especially when foreigners are concerned,” she said.
“Those out in the bush know how unpleasant things could become if these abuses continue unchecked.”
Despite the escalating tensions, Rushwaya highlighted the sector’s resilience, noting that gold deliveries from both small- and large-scale producers had reached an impressive 33 tonnes by the end of September.
The deteriorating relations have prompted a response from the Chinese embassy in Harare, which recently issued a rare, strongly worded advisory to its citizens.
The embassy urged Chinese nationals and companies to strictly adhere to local laws, respect Zimbabwean communities, and avoid disputes or environmentally destructive activities.
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