Ming Chang Sino-Africa Mining Investments has issued a press statement addressing a recent altercation involving one of its employees and a Chinese supervisor at Bijou Farm in Gweru.According to the company, the incident occurred on January 21, 2025, after excavator operator Kholwani Dube allegedly ignored instructions from his supervisors, leading to his suspension pending an investigation.
However, later that afternoon, Dube reportedly took the keys to an excavator and drove toward supervisors Mr. Hu and Mr. Chen, displaying what the company described as “threatening behavior.”Efforts to de-escalate the situation were unsuccessful, prompting the farm’s deputy manager, Mr. Huo Haopeng, to call the police. The statement further alleges that Dube attempted to run over the farm manager, Liu Haifeng, with the excavator, putting employees and company assets at risk.
During the standoff, Liu fired a warning shot into the air, adhering to firearm handling safety protocols, the company claims. However, the confrontation escalated into a physical altercation, culminating in a fistfight in which five other employees intervened. Dube allegedly stabbed Liu in the left leg before fellow employees managed to disarm him.Liu was taken to the hospital for treatment, while Dube was arrested and remains in police custody. No other employees were injured in the altercation.
The company expressed concern over what it described as “inaccurate” media reports that misrepresented the incident as an attack on local workers by a Chinese employer. It urged journalists to verify facts and report without bias.Authorities have yet to issue an official statement regarding the incident
