Zvishavane, Zimbabwe | Zvishavane based Golden Horn Joint Company (Pvt) Ltd, operated by Chinese nationals, is now under intensified scrutiny following allegations that its employees, implicated in illegal immigration and falsification of qualifications, explicitly name-dropped Masvingo Resident Minister Chadzamira, claiming they were “untouchable.”
This development significantly escalates concerns regarding the company’s operations, which include employing Chinese workers without valid work permits and falsifying educational qualifications and police clearance documents.
According to documents obtained by ZiMetro Investigations Desk, several Chinese employees are working at the mine without proper permits, violating Zimbabwe’s immigration laws. ZiMetro is in possession of names of some culprits (names withheld to avoid scuttling further investigations).
“For a foreigner/expatriate to commence work, they need to have a valid permit,” said Zuwai Machipisana, an immigration expert.
The Chinese Embassy is reportedly worried about these practices and has vowed to take action against companies involved. “The embassy will crack whip on these errand companies,” a source revealed.
The alleged falsification of documents, including educational qualifications and police clearances, raises concerns about the legitimacy of the workers’ credentials. ZiMetro has reached out to Golden Horn, but calls went unanswered at the time of writing.
This practice is said to be rampant among Chinese nationals across different companies, bringing into serious questioning the level of corruption happening at various government institutions, now further highlighted by the alleged involvement of high-ranking officials.
“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,” said one reliable source from the Department of Immigration who spoke on condition of anonymity.
It is standard procedure that one has to have a valid work permit anywhere in the world as long as they are a foreigner, but Chinese seem to disregard this global standard procedure when it comes to Zimbabwe.
It is believed most Chinese that are brought to work in Zimbabwe as professionals are mainly social misfits who are on the run in China or unqualified relatives brought to Africa by their investor relatives.
This has seen professional locals, especially engineers, failing to get jobs in the mining sector, dominated mainly by Chinese investors.
The Chief Immigration Officer, Ms. Respect Gono, could not be reached as her number went unanswered by the time of going to press.