The Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) has warned the Chinese embassy in Zimbabwe that it will launch a global campaign against Chinese investors if its nationals in Zimbabwe continue to disregard labour rights.
ZCTU petitioned Chinese ambassador to Zimbabwe, Guo Shaochun to whip his compatriots into line following the recent shooting of two Zimbabweans in Gweru by a Chinese businessman, Zhang Xueun.
ZCTU secretary-general, Japhet Moyo said in the petition:
We would like to warn you that if these abuses by Chinese investors continue, the ZCTU will have no option but to launch a global campaign against any Chinese investors who come not only to Zimbabwe but Africa.
There is no doubt that your compatriots are a law unto themselves and act with impunity knowing that they have protection from someone in the higher offices.
Why is it that of all investors coming to Zimbabwe, the Chinese investors have proved to be the most abusive?
This is the same behaviour that led Zimbabweans to take arms against white oppressors. Sooner rather than later, workers are bound to retaliate.
Xueun, who is both mine owner and manager, shot and injured two employees – Wendy Chikwaira and Kennedy Tachiona – during a wage dispute.
Chikwaira was treated and discharged from hospital after a bullet grazed his chin, while Tachiona was on Tuesday still admitted at a private hospital after being shot on his right leg and thigh.
In diplomatic terms the Chinese are a fairly baffling and complex lot back home in China and here again in Africa on our door steps, they have literally prooved crude and unrelenting…You watch and question who really needs them around with all this reckless mess and crudeness they subject Zimbabweans, Africans equally back in China and again in Africa. Kindly, we Zimbabweans, Africans have much more than these people have, what really is our business with them,,,,stop telling us about the revolution,,,,which world did not fight the liberation of Zimbabwe, the Russians, British and Americans even, Tanzania, Mozambique, Zambia many others all fought the Zimbabwe Liberation and are not a mess as these counterparts unfortunately. How many more Zimbabweans, Africans or others must be shot, die and sufffer, be exploited at the hands of these unfaithful and ungrateful Chinese counterparts? Where is the law, courts, justice? Zimbabwe and Africans put records straight with this cunningly recolonizing community from the China now working superbly in cahoots with their henchmen in Zimbabwe and Africa.