Zimbabwe finally starts to take action against Chinese miners breaking the law

Foreign companies in Zimbabwe are breaking rules, and the government is finally taking action. The Environmental Management Agency (Ema) just closed two Chinese mining companies near Sanyati River for working without proper permits.

One company, Riverlion (Pvt) Ltd, was caught digging in the riverbed and had set up washing equipment in the river. They didn’t have permission to use dangerous materials or change the river’s shape. The other company, Baimei Investments, cleared mountain land for mining exploration without getting the right papers.

“The company was excavating and modifying the river channel as defined in the Environmental Management Act [Chapter 20:27] as read with Statutory Instrument 7 of 2007,” Ema officials said about Riverlion’s actions.

This is just one example of how some foreign companies ignore Zimbabwe’s laws. Many get away with it because they have friends in high places. Workers at these places often don’t get safety equipment, and some bosses even beat up local workers.

The problem is also bad in shops. Foreign shop owners, mostly in downtown Harare’s small shops, don’t pay taxes or use bank cards. They only want cash, and this money just disappears instead of helping Zimbabwe’s economy.

Zimbabwe wants foreign business, but not like this. President Mnangagwa’s government made it easier for honest companies to work here. They can now get permits online through the Zimbabwe Investment Development Agency (Zida). More companies are getting permits this way, but the money they’re bringing in has dropped by 66% compared to last year.

Making things easier for businesses is good, but breaking rules is still wrong. When companies ignore laws on purpose, they’re not investors – they’re criminals. Zimbabwe needs to treat them that way.

Zimbabwe is trying to get foreign companies to invest here, but that doesn’t mean they can break the rules. The country needs to be tough and fair. Every company, no matter where it’s from, must follow Zimbabwe’s laws. Zimbabwe isn’t a playground – it’s a country with real laws that everyone must respect.

The message is clear: Zimbabwe welcomes honest business, but won’t let anyone break its laws. Companies that don’t follow the rules must face the consequences, no matter who they know in government.

https://www.newsday.co.zw/editorials/article/200034544/foreign-investors-must-conform-to-zim-laws