Chinese given exploratory permits for coal mining in Hwange National Park and surrounding hunting areas

[Philippe]

Chinese people in Africa ...

 

[Foxi]

There goes another area lost to the Chinese bastards! I truly fear we are the last generation to hunt Africa.

I'm afraid you're right, if the Chinese don't make it, the antis will give us the rest.

 

[Fred Gunner]

Zimbabwe: President Personally Approves Chinese Coal Mining in National Park:

Zimbabwe: President Approves Chinese Coal Mining in National Park

Zimbabwe socialist strongman President Emmerson Mnangagwa approved coal mining by Chinese companies in the country's Hwange National Park.

www.breitbart.com

Zimbabwe’s socialist strongman President Emmerson Mnangagwa apparently personally approved coal mining by Chinese companies in the country’s Hwange National Park, New Zimbabwe revealed Thursday.

Mnangagwa has maintained the close ties that his socialist state developed with the Communist Party of China (CCP) under predecessor Robert Mugabe, participating in China’s Belt and Road debt trap scheme and granting Chinese companies extensive access to Zimbabwe’s vast resources. China is Zimbabwe’s largest foreign investor; the country received $58 million in Chinese investment grants last year.

Chinese mining, in particular, has triggered outrage among Zimbabwean citizens as Chinese businessmen have faced allegations of racist abuse against locals.

Mnangagwa announced a significant expansion of Zimbabwe’s mining industry in August at an event co-sponsored with China, despite a recent harrowing incident in which a Chinese boss shot native workers for asking for the salaries they had been promised.

“We equally look forward to the creation of both direct and indirect jobs as well as empowerment opportunities for associated value chains,” Xinhua quoted the strongman as saying.

In June, the manager of a Chinese-run mine, Zhang Xuelin, reportedly shot two workers, Kennedy Tachiona and Wendy Chikwaira, after Tachoina asked for his salary, which Zhang had refused to pay. Zhang was caught on video shooting Tachiona five times and then shooting at other workers watching in horror, injuring Chikwaira. At the time, CNN detailed other incidents of Chinese worker abuse in the country:

Several cases of Chinese miners refusing to pay salaries or provide their workers with protective clothing, especially during the [coronavirus] pandemic, are currently being investigated by ZELA [the Zimbabwe Environmental Law Association], according to its deputy director Shamiso Mutisi.

“In many parts of Africa, including Zimbabwe, Chinese mining investors have exhibited a history of bad safety, health, environmental, labor, and human rights standards,” ZELA said in a statement.

China is a signatory to the United Nations Paris Agreement, which aims to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions. The responsibilities of the parties involved end at their borders, however, meaning Chinese coal development abroad would not count towards its greenhouse gas emissions despite the direct relationship between fossil fuels and greenhouse gas emissions.

 

[spike.t]

Zimbabwe: President Personally Approves Chinese Coal Mining in National Park:

Zimbabwe: President Approves Chinese Coal Mining in National Park

Zimbabwe socialist strongman President Emmerson Mnangagwa approved coal mining by Chinese companies in the country's Hwange National Park.

www.breitbart.com

Zimbabwe’s socialist strongman President Emmerson Mnangagwa apparently personally approved coal mining by Chinese companies in the country’s Hwange National Park, New Zimbabwe revealed Thursday.

Mnangagwa has maintained the close ties that his socialist state developed with the Communist Party of China (CCP) under predecessor Robert Mugabe, participating in China’s Belt and Road debt trap scheme and granting Chinese companies extensive access to Zimbabwe’s vast resources. China is Zimbabwe’s largest foreign investor; the country received $58 million in Chinese investment grants last year.

Chinese mining, in particular, has triggered outrage among Zimbabwean citizens as Chinese businessmen have faced allegations of racist abuse against locals.

Mnangagwa announced a significant expansion of Zimbabwe’s mining industry in August at an event co-sponsored with China, despite a recent harrowing incident in which a Chinese boss shot native workers for asking for the salaries they had been promised.

“We equally look forward to the creation of both direct and indirect jobs as well as empowerment opportunities for associated value chains,” Xinhua quoted the strongman as saying.

In June, the manager of a Chinese-run mine, Zhang Xuelin, reportedly shot two workers, Kennedy Tachiona and Wendy Chikwaira, after Tachoina asked for his salary, which Zhang had refused to pay. Zhang was caught on video shooting Tachiona five times and then shooting at other workers watching in horror, injuring Chikwaira. At the time, CNN detailed other incidents of Chinese worker abuse in the country:

“In many parts of Africa, including Zimbabwe, Chinese mining investors have exhibited a history of bad safety, health, environmental, labor, and human rights standards,” ZELA said in a statement.

China is a signatory to the United Nations Paris Agreement, which aims to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions. The responsibilities of the parties involved end at their borders, however, meaning Chinese coal development abroad would not count towards its greenhouse gas emissions despite the direct relationship between fossil fuels and greenhouse gas emissions.

Yeah if you think how the Chinese treat their own people, who thinks they give a flying fk about people in these countries....zero I promise you

 

[Brent in Az]

So...is this Zim president, Mugabe 2.0?

 

[spike.t]

Oh, F#CK!! Thanks for the history, so its' days are truly numbered!!

FWIW I stayed at Nehimba and can recommend the place (before it too goes!!). Superb facilities (all done reminiscent of 1920's decor). Elephants known to drink the water from your shower rose while you're showering, and also to drink from the pool while you're swimming (they get very thirsty!!). In the evenings there's the need for an armed escort from chalet to dining area, because the lion, elephant and leopard walk through the place. Then, finally drifting off to sleep listening to the sound of distant elephant and lion. Hunter's bliss!!

Did you get to meet butcher when you were there?

 

[Timbo]

Did you get to meet butcher when you were there?

No. Did you?

 

[spike.t]

No. Did you?

Just wondered as he a mate of mine. Had some good drinking sessions with him... but haven't seen him for 3 or 4 years now

 

[thriller]

I hunted near the coal mine near deka in 2015. Hope the whole area does not get dug up. Though I have to say there were good numbers of critters in the area for being so close to a mine. We shall see how it plays out though.

 

[Fred Gunner]

Hundreds of illegal gold panners invaded Zimbabwe's Chimanimani National Park last month, on the back of the Covid-19 lockdown and worsening economic conditions. Their presence threatens a pristine mountain ecosystem that is home to rare wildlife, residents claim.

News that this park, located along a stunning quartzite mountain range between Zimbabwe and neighbouring Mozambique, is threatened by mining activities comes after consternation at reports earlier this week that Chinese coal companies had been given a permit to prospect in Hwange National Park in the northwest of the country – home to Cecil the Lion.

Evidence of poaching, panning and pillage

“Pretty much wherever we went there was evidence of poaching, panning and pillage,” said Andrew Shoesmith, the chief executive of adventure group, Outward Bound Zimbabwe. He and a small group of hikers were among the first tourists to the park since the start of a Covid-19 lockdown on 30 March.

The Bundi River, normally a crystal-clear stream that supplies areas below the mountains with drinking water, was “running the colour of coffee without milk in it” last month due to the activities of gold panners, Shoesmith said.

“There are a lot of Chimanimani residents who are so angry that part of that 2,000 people that arrived to go and rape and pillage their park were from far away. So they said, ‘you know what, these guys don’t even live here yet they are going there and they are getting the gold'."

Though there's no evidence the panners in Chimanimani have government backing, critics worry that as coronavirus takes its toll on tourism, the authorities may be tempted to turn protected areas elsewhere over to miners.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government is keen to treble mining revenue to 12 billion US dollars by 2023.

Environmental lawyers say inconsistencies in Zimbabwe’s mining and environmental laws are putting its parks at risk.

“What we have is a perception that mining takes precedence over anything else,” said Nyaradzo Mutonhori, programmes manager with the Harare-based Zimbabwe Environmental Law Association.
“We are definitely afraid that there is really going to be an upscaling of mining in national parks and this is going to increase environmental degradation.”

Illegal gold rush threatens wildlife in pristine Zimbabwe national park

Hundreds of illegal gold panners invaded Zimbabwe's Chimanimani National Park last month, on the back of the Covid-19 lockdown and worsening economic conditions. Their presence threatens a pristine mountain…

www.rfi.fr

 

[Nhoro]

I see that Zimbabwe's EMA (Environmental Management Authority)has filed an urgent court order to stop the prospecting (drilling). Lets hope.......

 

[Traveler1]

I agree, let's hope EMA can do something. Is there anything the US can do or has it washed its hand's on Zimbabwe?

 

[One Day...]

Well, well, well... I would assume that one did not expect those wonderfully easy Chinese loans to our colonially-oppressed African brethren to be free, right?

This was how European powers acquired the Suez Canal, and many of their colonies two centuries or so ago, remember? Executing on the collateral when the 'impossible-from-day-one-to-repay' generous loans defaulted...

Ha, but history repeating itself endlessly... Not exactly a novel concept... A few minor changes of actors: China is today the imperialist and colonialist entity - what an interesting situation for a self-professed communist regime! - but same story all over again...

Very sad for Zim, but only an harbinger of what is coming fast for African nations in the hands of political figures who chose to believe, or pretended to believe, in free lunches...

 

[Paul Raley]

It is really sad to hear what is going on in Zim re the mining but not surprising . Corrupt African leaders do not give a crap about anything except what they can gain financially in the short term . They dont care about their people , their countries fauna & flora or any long term impact , it is all about immediate greed and becoming wealthy , that is why there are so many millionaire / billionaire politicians in Africa .
In South Africa the Kruger National Park is also at threat from mining , and like everything else connected to the SA government every aspect of the process involves some form of corruption .

 

[spike.t]

Just got this from John sharp
Please sign and also forward

Sign Petition: No to coal mining in Hwange National Park!

The Zimbabwe Government has granted two Chinese companies permission to conduct surveys for mining coal at two sites inside Hwange (1836 signatures on petition)

www.thepetitionsite.com

 

[Fred Gunner]

Is there anything the US can do

Oh hell yes that's the American Tax (Slaves) payers only reason for existence ....Solve all the worlds problems...We're 30 Trillion $$$ in Debt...We've Sanctioned Zimbabwe in every way possible...

Zimbabwe Threatens to Expel ‘Thug,’ ‘Uncle Tom’ U.S. Ambassador:
A spokesman for the ruling leftist party of Zimbabwe, Patrick Chinamasa, insulted U.S. Ambassador to Zimbabwe Brian Nichols in a screed Monday in which he referred to the diplomat as a “thug” and an “Uncle Tom.”

Zimbabwe Agrees to Pay White Farmers $3.5 Billion (It Doesn’t Have) for Land Grabs:
“Zimbabwe is no longer able to borrow money from the World Bank until some of Zimbabwe’s previous debts have been resolved. In particular, the United States is demanding that Zimbabwe provide at least partial restitution for land seized from white farmers before it will approve of any further World Bank loan to Zimbabwe,” Breitbart News reported in late 2018.

Foot Note: The USA owns the World Bank.

 

[spike.t]

Just got sent this...hope it doesn't get over ridden...

 

[typilotguy]

@ChrisPy and @typilotguy just wondering ...so you agree with the mining as didn't like my post?....why would you want to see hwange destroyed?

No, not at all. Quite the opposite, really. (Hence the "thumbs down" aka "dislike" emoji).

The timing of your posting on this was rather interesting as well...I read this within minutes of watching a video a PH friend of mine in South Africa had sent me. It had to do with the exact same subject in that country, as it related to reparations that had been demanded by certain groups within that country.

 

[rinehart0050]

good news:
https://www.bbc.com/news/live/world...586259a9c71d02bf1ccab1&pinned_post_type=share

 

[Philippe]

good news:
https://www.bbc.com/news/live/world-africa-47639452?ns_mchannel=social&ns_source=twitter&ns_campaign=bbc_live&ns_linkname=5f586259a9c71d02bf1ccab1&Zimbabwe withdraws mining permits in wildlife park&2020-09-09T06:12:41.696Z&ns_fee=0&pinned_post_locator=urn:asset:d0360ca4-7f14-4f63-af7f-7c1ab46a6084&pinned_post_asset_id=5f586259a9c71d02bf1ccab1&pinned_post_type=share

Good news indeed