By Own correspondent

President Emmerson Mnangagwa has weighed-in with a stern warning to foreign investors perpetrating labour abuses targeting those in the mining sector, adding that government is finalising measures to hold them accountable.

In his State of the Nation Address (SONA) yesterday, President Mnangagwa said authorities will no longer tolerate companies that exploit workers or degrade the environment.

“We expect that they will adhere to the Constitution and laws of our country while respecting our people and our culture,” Mnangagwa said.

Mnangagwa’s call for order and adherence to the law came following a massive public outcry over the conduct of some foreign-owned mining firms, especially from China, accused of flouting labour laws, underpaying local workers, displacing communities, desecrating graves  and causing extensive environmental damage in communities they are operating in.

The government has been under pressure to reign-in foreign investors particularly the Chinese over labour violations with stakeholders calling for tougher regulation and enforcement in the mining sector.

The Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) recently slammed the government for turning a blind eye as Chinese investors continue to abuse workers’ rights across sectors.

ZCTU Secretary General Tirivanhu Marimo singled out Sino-Bikita Minerals, describing its treatment of workers as problematic.

“As labour, we are gravely concerned about the alarming escalation of workers’ rights violations in Chinese-run mining operations, particularly at Sino-Bikita Lithium Mine. Reports of workers being beaten, intimidated, and subjected to degrading treatment by both foreign managers and their local accomplices are not only barbaric but outrightly unlawful,” Marimo said.

“The ZCTU calls for the immediate investigation and prosecution of perpetrators under Zimbabwe’s criminal law, including both foreign nationals and local enablers. Labour inspections must be dispatched and enforced by the Ministry of Labour and NSSA to ensure compliance with safety and dignity standards,” he said.

He also urged authorities to suspend mining licences for companies found guilty of systematic abuse until they comply with labour laws, while demanding full compensation and medical rehabilitation for affected workers.

“The mounting complaints of barbaric conduct at Chinese operations constitute not just a breach of labour rights, but a direct assault on Zimbabwe’s sovereignty, showing contempt for both human rights and the rule of law. If the Government’s mantra of ‘Zimbabwe is Open for Business’ is to carry legitimacy, it cannot serve as a smokescreen for modern-day slavery where foreign investment becomes synonymous with unchecked violence, exploitation, and impunity,” he added.