Chinese businesspeople scramble to hire private security to safeguard ‘loot’ gotten from dubious mining operations as they fly out for holidays

Harare- TRAVEL agents and private security companies are reportedly enjoying brisk business as Chinese nationals resident in Zimbabwe are this week leaving the country en masse as they visit their home country for the annual holidays,Express Mail Zim has heard.

Chinese businessmen are known for not using the local banking system but prefer to keep wads of hard cash at their highly secured houses.

This can be evidenced by the number of robberies where Chinese businesspeople have lost large amounts of cash -proceeds of mostly mining activities ,some of which locals have been displaced.

Private security companies who spoke to this reporter said there is brisk business as the Chinese nationals are beefing up security at their business premises and houses before flying out to Beijing to safeguard their ‘loot’.

” They prefer services of private security companies rather than the police for reason best known to themselves.

“I suspect it is because they know that most of their activities are shady so police involvement will scupper their underground business operations.

“Look at what happened to the Shanglira robbery, they tried to conceal the attack by robbers,” said a player in the private security industry who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Some section of Chinese businessmen have for long accused of moving cash out of the country via Zambia.

“Zambia is the conduit before the cash is wired to Beijing.

“They know that our local airports have vigilant security personell.

“Look at how that E-Creator guy was nabbed when he tried to flee,” said another source has worked for Chinese businessmen.

Express Mail Zim understands that money is been siphoned from mining claims and purported synergies.

Inside sources within the Ministry of Mines told Express Mail Zim a fortinight ago that the recent low key purported USD1 billion cement manufacturing partnership deal between Ladbenmon and West International is raising questions within the Ministry of Mines such that the Ministry snubbed the signing in ceremony on January 3 in Harare.

Sources say they pegged limestone claims without authority of Government and EMA compliance.

One week long efforts to get a response proved fruitless as parties were not forthcoming.

The Chinese holidays schedule features two major week-long holidays: Spring Festival (also known as Chinese New Year) and the National Day holiday (often called ‘Golden Week’).

In 2024, the Spring Festival falls between February 10 and 17, and the National Day holiday falls between October 1 and 7.

The Chinese New Year’s Eve for 2024 (February 9, 2024) is labeled as a working day in the official schedule released.

However, the circular states that employers are encouraged to arrange paid leave on that day for their employees a pipeline dream for most Zimbabwean who have been abused by Chinese employers through poor wages and physical abuse.