WORKERS at a Chinese technology company have petitioned the government to deport two of their senior managers, accusing them of racism and ill-treating them.
BY DALPHINE TAGWIREYI
Workers at Huawei Zimbabwe petitioned the co-ministers of Home Affairs, Theresa Makone and Kembo Mohadi urging them to deport senior company officials only identified as Wangzhigang and Yanyifan in the petition.
The petition dated January 15 2013 was also copied to the Minister of Labour and Social Services, Paurina Mpariwa, the Chinese Embassy and the Department of Immigration. “We, the undersigned hereby present this petition regarding the two Chinese members of Huawei Technologies Co Ltd (Zim Office),” reads part of the petition signed by 50 employees. “It is our contention that we cannot continue working with them because of their arrogance and ill-treatment of fellow local employees. We all content that their visas and/or work permits should be revoked forthwith.”
The workers cited an incident during a business meeting with a local vehicle company when a Zimbabwean female employee attempted to answer a question but was shouted at.
“One of the Chinese rudely shouted at her claiming she was not one of the staff members,” said one of the worker’s representatives. The workers also accused their Chinese bosses of racism. They said workers had not been complaining for a long time now for fear dismissal. Wangzhigang said he was not allowed to talk to the media.
“Any questions you may have please talk to our human resources department or you can talk to our director since you have his number,” he said.
An official with Huawei Zimbabwe’s human resources department confirmed the allegations.
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“We have suffered silently for too long and this matter should be addressed,” said the official, who refused to identify himself.
But Huawei Zimbabwe director Stephen Wen said he was out of the country and was not yet aware of the employees’ complaints. A Chinese embassy official from the economic and commercials counsellor’s office, Niu Pengbo, said the issue would be investigated.
The Immigration office requested a copy of the petition, but had not responded to The Standard yesterday.
Makone, Mohadi and Mpariwa could not be reached for comment last week.
Numerous cases of Chinese companies and officials abusing their workers have been reported in the country in the past few years. Some of the firms were said to be underpaying workers, forcing them to work overtime for free and failing to provide adequate safety clothing.
Chinese managers have also been reportedly physically abusing local workers.
