via Don’t bring Chinese labourers here, Min 12 October 2014
ENERGY Minister Dzikamai Mavhaire has warned a Chinese company which was handed a US$1.5 billion contract to boost electricity generation in the country against bringing labourers from Beijing.
Mavhaire was speaking last week at an event where the deal was concluded with Chinese company Synohydro for the addition of two new units at the coal-fired Hwange Power Station which will help ease the country’s power supply problems.
“Our young boys and girls who went abroad are now experienced. They can take up these jobs. We have a lot of engineers and technicians … don’t bring a lot of Chinese workers.”
China has been playing a key role in Zimbabwe since the country adopted its Look East policy to mitigate the impact of the collapse in relations with traditional western partners over the last decade or so.
President Robert Mugabe recently visited Beijing where he secured funding for massive infrastructure development projects which he expects to help revive the faltering economy as well as create new jobs for a country said to have an unemployment rate of about 80 percent.
Opposition legislator Settlement Chikwinya voiced concern over the issue in Parliament with Finance Minister Patrick Chinamasa following Mugabe’s return from his China visit.
“It’s not the first time I am hearing that allegation. We have projects which we have undertaken with them and I have no evidence of people coming to push wheelbarrows from China,” said Chinamasa.
Meanwhile, Mavhaire warned Sinohydro against backing out of the billion Hwange expansion project which is critical for the energy-starved country.
“There is no way you can come back and say ‘sorry there is no money’ because you said funding is available,” said Mavhaire amidst laughter.
Zimbabwe produces an average of 1,200MW against a peak demand of 2,200MW and relies on imports to supplement its production.
Last month the government launched a $533m project with Sinohydro to scale up electricity generation at another of the country’s major plants, the Kariba hydroelectric power station.
COMMENTS
So according to this Zimbo’s can push wheelbarrows??? Fantastic hopefully not Chinese wheel barrows or they won’t last long!!
Yes before the nasty British came there were no wheelbarrows. The chinese wheelbarrows have two wheels and are in evidence all over. But we still prefer to push the single wheel version.
All wheel barrows, shovels , picks, brooms and semi skilled and skilled workers (600 of them) imported from Chinksville. Only 100 locals, all sweepers and dagga boys are employed at the Vic Falls Airport Extension Project. The Zing Zongs are cheating Zimbabwe.
“It’s not the first time I am hearing that allegation. We have projects which we have undertaken with them and I have no evidence of people coming to push wheelbarrows from China,” said Chinamasa.
“They come with technical people and labour is provided by Zimbabweans.”
Only an idiot says this.
So Chinamasa thinks Zimbabweans should be labourers pushing wheel barrows while Chinese do technical stuff???
Go to Uni earn a Degree work as a labourer for the Chines in Zimbabwe???
is that SOVEREIGNITY?
At least let the chinese do it mugabe and zimbobweans clearly cannot. Is it not evident after 30 odd years???? including labourers.
Sounds like a bitter old white guy. Every country has its own problems including the so called mighty US and UK who continually ignore the cries of its own people and put the needs of the big Corporations first.
So this is what “FREEDOM” has bought the average Zimbabwean – he can push a wheelbarrow. How absolutely disgusting and demeaning this comment is. What more proof does the average man in the street need to see what this Government has reduced them to??? Come on fellow Zimbabweans – at Independence, Zimbabwe had the highest literacy rate in Africa – now all you are good for is pushing wheelbarrows. WAKE UP !!!!