By Nigel Pfunde
Masvingo Province resident minister Ezra Chadzamira is in the eye of a storm following revelations that he is allegedly using his political muscle to protect illegal Chinese immigrants at Golden Horn Joint Company (Pvt) Ltd, a Zvishavane based enterprise where he has interest in .
The mine operated by Chinese nationals most of whom are said to be social deviants in the Mainland.
Allegations have surfaced that Chinese employees implicated in illegal immigration and the falsification of qualifications are openly invoking Chadzamira’s name and claim immunity due to his alleged political muscle.
This development escalates concerns regarding the company’s operations, which reportedly include employing Chinese workers without valid work permits and the falsification of educational qualifications,(especially engineers) and police clearance documents.
Documents obtained by Express Mail Zim investigations desk reveal that several Chinese employees are actively working at the mine in direct violation of Zimbabwe’s immigration laws, lacking proper permits.
Sources indicate that these individuals, whose names are currently withheld for investigative purposes, have been claiming the backing of Chadzamira as a shield against legal repercussions.
Express Mail Zim interviewed an immigration expert, Tapiwa Makoto and he said:
“For a foreigner/expatriate to commence work they need to have a valid permit.
“The disregard for this fundamental legal principle,coupled with the alleged boasts of ministerial protection is clear corruption and impunity.Further compounding the issue are allegations of falsified documents including educational qualifications and police clearances. This raises serious questions about the legitimacy of the workers’ credentials and the integrity of the processes meant to vet foreign workers.”
Efforts to reach Golden Horn for comment have been unsuccessful as the authorities phone went unanswered at the time of writing.
Chadzamira did not also pick his mobile phone at the time of writing after incessant effort.
This pattern of behavior is reportedly widespread among Chinese nationals employed by various companies in Zimbabwe.
The pervasive corruption within government institutions has reached alarming levels.
The alleged involvement of high ranking officials, such as Chadzamira further exacerbates these fears.
A reliable source from the Department of Immigration, speaking anonymously said:
“The level of corruption happening in this country is insane. The Chinese have found a way of bribing their way into getting work visas despite them not having the required qualifications.”
While valid work permits are a global standard for foreign workers, Chinese nationals in Zimbabwe appear to operate with a perceived exemption from these regulations. It is widely believed that many Chinese individuals brought into Zimbabwe as professionals are in fact social misfits or unqualified relatives of investors seeking refuge or opportunity in Africa.
This situation has had a detrimental impact on local professionals, particularly engineers who struggle to secure employment in the mining sector which is heavily dominated by Chinese investors.
Attempts to contact the Chief Immigration Officer, Ms Respect Gono for comment were unsuccessful at the time of publication.
