In recent weeks, anti-Chinese sentiment has been on the rise across several African nations, with protests and violent incidents reported.
By Ryan Chigoche
In the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), locals have targeted Chinese nationals in response to frustrations over Chinese involvement in illegal activities.
Recently, a Congolese court sentenced three Chinese citizens to seven years in prison after they were arrested with gold bars and $400,000 in cash. They were found guilty of illegal activities related to the artisanal mining sector.
The case marks a significant milestone, as the trio are the first Chinese nationals to stand trial since the DRC launched its latest crackdown on unlicensed extraction of the country’s valuable and strategic minerals, particularly in its conflict-torn east.
In addition to the prison sentence, the judge ordered the three individuals to pay a fine equivalent to $600,000 and permanently banned them from entering the DRC once their sentences were served.
Back home in Zimbabwe, Chinese companies have gained increasing control over the country’s mining sector. Data from the Centre for Natural Resource Governance released late last year reveals that 58% of Zimbabwe’s mining operations — 83 out of 148 mines — are now owned by Chinese firms.
This growing dominance is particularly significant in gold, black granite, and lithium-rich regions, where China has made substantial investments. From the gold-rich Kwekwe to the lithium reserves of Mutoko, Chinese investors are securing key mining operations across the country.
However, Chinese interests in Zimbabwe’s small-scale mining sector continue to benefit from strong protection from the politically powerful. In some cases, Chinese companies are even involved in land grabs, particularly in the chrome sector, where they have been accused of pushing local miners off prime mining areas. This trend has led to further frustration among locals, as these foreign entities benefit from political ties that shield them from accountability, while local miners are left marginalized.
Many small-scale Chinese mining operations in Kwekwe have been accused of operating without proper registration, a problem that was raised by Zimbabwe’s parliament in 2013. Despite a two-year investigation, most of the Chinese companies visited by the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Mines and Energy could not produce the required documents, raising concerns about transparency and the government’s ability to regulate foreign operations.
These unregistered mines are often accused of cutting corners and neglecting environmental protections, all while benefiting from political connections that protect them from scrutiny.
Rising discontent is also apparent in the eastern region of Zimbabwe, where Chinese companies are accused of operating illegally, damaging the environment, and violating the rights of local miners. This frustration with Chinese businesses has spread to Mozambique, where protests have erupted against Chinese-owned companies.
In Mozambique, Chinese businesses are perceived to be closely aligned with government officials, leading opposition parties to accuse the Chinese government of fostering corruption. This has fueled further anti-Chinese sentiment, with protests increasingly targeting Chinese-owned businesses and illegal operations. The situation underscores a growing dissatisfaction with Chinese investments across Africa, driven by concerns over exploitation, environmental degradation, and perceptions of corruption.
As anti-Chinese sentiment continues to grow, it remains to be seen whether other countries, like Zimbabwe — with significant Chinese involvement in illegal and unregistered mining, particularly in the small-scale sector — will follow the DRC and push for accountability.
Local miners in Zimbabwe, represented by the Zimbabwe Miners Federation (ZMF), are actively advocating for foreigners to be banned from operating in small-scale mining. This movement is driven by frustration over foreign dominance in the sector. However, it remains uncertain whether these efforts will be successful, given the delays by the government on the Mines and Minerals Amendment Bill.
The bill aims to regulate mining and prospecting in Zimbabwe and also establish a Mining Cadastre Registry, which would make mining title information publicly available — a development that would combat corrupt mine grabs.
