Government has dismissed allegations that it was turning a
blind eye to the abuse of workers by foreign companies and businesspeople,
saying the country’s labour laws apply to everyone regardless of nationality or
race.
Responding to media queries on what action the Government
would prefer against a Chinese businessman who allegedly shot and injured two
of his employees in the Midlands following a labour dispute early this week,
the Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Monica
Mutsvangwa said the matter will be handled by the country’s justice system just
like any other criminal case.
Minister Mutsvangwa said labour abuse was not peculiar to
Zimbabwe, but a universal problem.
While Zimbabwe welcomed foreign investors in line with the
Second Republic’s mantra “Zimbabwe is open for business”, the Government was
colour blind when it came to enforcing the law.
“Criminal activities should be dealt with as such and not
on the basis of race. The seamless nature of capital chimes with the non-racial
national tenets of Zimbabwe.
“We approach labour issues in Zimbabwe along the similar
lines. Our labour laws apply to each and every employer and worker. We never
invoke origin of nationality in their application,” said Minister Mutsvangwa.
“That is why the Chinese Embassy had the confidence to
implore Zimbabwe to handle the Midlands gold mine shooting as an ordinary
crime. Any incidental malfeasance in the employee-employer domain has
absolutely no bearing in our sound bilateral relations with any nation, be it
China, USA, UK or South Africa among all others.”
A 41-year old Chinese gold miner, Zhang Xuelin, allegedly
shot and injured 33-year-old Wendy Chikwaira and Kennedy Tachiona (39) at
Reeden Mine near Gweru.
He has since been arrested and is facing attempted murder
charges.
Meanwhile, the Zanu PF Youth league has condemned the
shooting of Chikwaira and Tachiona following a wage dispute.
The party’s acting Deputy Secretary for Youth Affairs Cde
Tendai Chirau said the Youth League was deeply concerned by the disregard of
existing dispute resolution mechanisms enshrined in Zimbabwe’s labour laws.
“The Zanu PF Youth League continues to stand with the
toiling indigenes of Zimbabwe and we express our utter shock and dismay at the
actions which not only threaten the peace, progress and stability that
characterises the Second Republic, but actions which also risk being
misinterpreted in the context of the bilateral relations between Zimbabwe and
its all-weather friend China.
“We welcome in this regard the statement issued by the Chinese
Embassy in Zimbabwe wherein the Embassy said it would firmly support Zimbabwe’s
law enforcement agencies to transparently and openly investigate and handle the
case in accordance with the law of Zimbabwe.
“We vehemently condemn such callous acts that seek to
destabilise the harmonious working relationships of people of all races,” said
Cde Chirau.
Cde Chirau said the league would monitor the progress of
the case. Herald
0 comments:
Post a Comment