On October 10, 2025, Chinese Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Zhou Ding, addressed a public inquiry from Zimbabwean lawyer and former Member of Parliament, Fadzayi Mahere. Mahere had raised concerns on social media about a reported incident at a Chinese-owned gold mine in Mutoko, specifically asking if the embassy was aware of an alleged assault on local residents by Chinese employees. Ambassador Zhou Ding responded to her query via the embassy’s official social media account.
“A statement by the Chinese company involved. FYI. @advocatemahere The final conclusion must come from the Police.”
He then shared and quoted the full official statement from China Zhuhe Mining Co., Ltd., dated October 10, 2025, which details the company’s account of events from the previous day, October 9, 2025.
Statement on the Incident of the Attack on China Zhuhe Mining’s Gold Mine in Mutoko, Zimbabwe on 9th October 2025
At 00:33 on the early morning of October 9, 2025, a group of gangsters climbed over the courtyard wall of the gold mine owned by China Zhuhe Mining in Mutoko, Zimbabwe, in an attempt to commit robbery.
An on-duty Chinese engineer, armed with a legally registered security firearm for mining operations (with valid certificates), fired several warning shots into the air to stop the criminal act. The gangsters immediately fled in all directions.
At approximately 7:00 a.m. the same day, local workers on the early shift discovered a critically injured gangster about 1 kilometer from the crime scene. They promptly reported the matter to Mr. Zilu, the local translator who also served as the direct supervisor. Mr. Zilu rushed to the scene immediately; upon questioning the gangster, the latter admitted to being injured during the robbery and abandoned at the scene by his accomplices. Mr. Zilu immediately arranged to report the case to the police, but unfortunately, the gangster had already passed away when the police arrived.
While the police were en route to the scene, some local villagers, unaware of the truth, saw the gangster’s body and mistakenly suspected Chinese employees of improper conduct. They then besieged several innocent Chinese employees. Fortunately, the police arrived in time and quickly brought the situation under control.
Currently, the local police have launched a full-scale investigation. One accomplice of the deceased gangster is cooperating with the investigation and has confessed to his involvement in the robbery. The hunt for other suspects linked to the case is still ongoing.
The Chinese engineer involved in the incident is actively cooperating with the police investigation and awaiting the police’s final handling decision.
China Zhuhe Mining Co., Ltd.
October 10, 2025
