"Shock abuse at Chinese-owned mine", 7 Aug 2016

Nearly 40 workers employed at a Chinese-controlled mine near Doneni, Muzvezve area in Kadoma who have gone for months without salaries, say they are being treated like slaves by the owners...Workers alleged that they are forced to work in the mine shaft without any protective clothing, exposing them to injuries and other health hazards...They accused the Chinese investors of verbally and physically abusing them during work and when they ask for their outstanding salaries...Workers sleep at the mine on beds made of logs and galvanised metal sheets. The mine shafts themselves are built with unstable wooden poles...When The Standard visited the mine...the place was deserted, with only one Chinese national and a security guard at the premises...The Chinese national could not communicate in English and had to call an unidentified person in Harare. A woman who identified herself as the mine owner... refused to discuss the allegations of abuse over the phone.