GWERU, Zimbabwe – A labour dispute turned violent at Bijou Farm in Gweru on January 21, involving Kholwani Dube, an excavator operator at Ming Chang Sino-Africa Mining Investments, and his supervisors.
Dube, who was reportedly demanding unpaid wages, was filmed shouting, “I want my money!” before the confrontation intensified. The company, however, denied owing him any money, stating that “the only outstanding dues are for this month of January, whose date of payment is not yet due.”
In a detailed statement, Ming Chang Sino-Africa Mining Investments said, “Ming Chang Sino-Africa Mining Investments P/L wishes to address our stakeholders regarding an incident that occurred on January 21, 2025. In the morning hours, Kholwani Dube, an excavator operator employed at Bijou Farm in Gweru, was observed repeatedly disregarding instructions from his supervisors on a construction site,” Ming Chang Sino-Africa Mining Investments P/L said in a statement.
“In accordance with company policies and Zimbabwean Labour Laws, Mr. Dube was warned and subsequently suspended from his duties pending a formal investigation into the matter.
“At approximately 16:00 on the same day, it was reported that Mr. Dube took the keys to excavator No. 28 from the dam construction site and drove the vehicle towards supervisors Mr. Hu and Mr. Chen, exhibiting behaviour that posed a serious threat. Despite their efforts to intervene safely, Mr. Dube’s actions necessitated immediate reporting to the Farm Manager, Mr. Liu Haifeng, and his deputy, Mr. Huo Haopen,” the statement continued.
“Dube even attempted to run over the manager LIU Haifeng with the excavator all this while putting other employees and assets at risk. LIU Haifeng fired a warning shot into the sky, taking into account all firearm handling and safety procedures and without harming anyone. During the skirmish, HUO Haopeng contacted the police at Gweru Rural Police Station who were unfortunately unable to respond immediately due to transport challenges.
“Dube then suddenly attacked LIU Haifeng. LIU Haifeng defended himself out of instinct, grabbing the driver by the collar. The two were embroiled in a fistfight in which five other employees broke up. It was during the fistfight that Dube stabbed and seriously injured LIU Haifeng on his left leg.
“Fellow employees disarmed Dube. HUO Haopeng immediately had to return to the farm to take LIU Haifeng to the hospital for medical treatment, while other employees took the driver to the police. Dube was not injured in the process and is currently in police custody. No other employees were injured.
Ming Chang condemned media reports alleging that Dube had been shot, describing them as “inaccurate versions of the incident” and part of “yet another attack on Chinese investors in Zimbabwe using false information.”
“We also take this opportunity to urge the media to verify facts and report accurately without bias,” the company stated. “Our company is a law-abiding citizen and remains committed to best labour and business practices which employ legal conflict resolution strategies. We are also committed to being a part of building Zimbabwe brick upon brick in the productive sectors and creating employment for thousands of Zimbabweans.”
There were also claims that Dube had been shot, but the company dismissed these allegations as a mix-up fueled by malicious intent to undermine Chinese-owned businesses. They clarified that Dube is in police custody uninjured, while the injured party is the Chinese national, Liu Haifeng.
