Mnangagwa warns foreign investors over pollution, labour abuses
President Emmerson Mnangagwa has issued a stern warning to foreign investors, particularly those in the mining sector, adding that government is finalising measures to hold polluters and labour rights violators accountable.
Delivering his State of the Nation Address (SONA) at the new Parliament Building in Mt Hampden on Tuesday, 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.
His remarks come amid growing public outrage over the conduct of some foreign-owned mining firms, especially from China, accused of flouting labour laws, underpaying local workers, and causing extensive environmental damage.
In recent years, Zimbabwe’s investment drive has drawn criticism from communities who say many investors operate with impunity, polluting rivers, creating unsafe working conditions, and offering little benefit to surrounding areas.
Mnangagwa’s warning signals mounting government pressure on errant investors amid increasing calls for tighter regulation and enforcement in the mining sector, a key pillar of Zimbabwe’s struggling economy.
Meanwhile, the President said the long-awaited Mines and Minerals Amendment Bill should be completed during the third session of the 10th Parliament. _*NewZimbabwe*_
