Traditional leader slams Chinese ‘looters’

A Mashonaland traditional leader has accused Chinese nationals in Zimbabwe of being behind ‘massive looting’ of the country mineral resources. New Zimbabwe reports that Matthew Chitemamuswe questioned how Chinese mining company, Afrochine, was granted a permit to mine chrome ore in the Mavuradonha Wilderness heritage site. ‘We are in defence of our mountain range. We will eventually see if and how the resources underground will be protected. These people take what they want and go. They do not even recognise local communities or chiefs in the areas they operate. The law is not doing anything,’ he said. George Seremwe, who runs the site, said water supplies for animals in the conservancy had already been affected by the chrome mining and it was no longer flowing in the rivers. ‘Fortunately for villagers, they can still survive on underground water, but if mining continues then that will be the beginning of serious water challenges,’ said Seremwe.