Union Sues Chinese-Owned Bulawayo Mine Over Alleged Forced HIV Testing and Dismissal of Women

ZDAMWU

By Staff Reporter

Bulawayo, Zimbabwe — The Zimbabwe Diamond and Allied Minerals Workers Union (ZDAMWU) has taken legal action against the management of Xiao Honguqiu’s Famona gold mine, accusing it of forcing female workers to undergo HIV testing and dismissing them in violation of labour and constitutional laws.

The union alleges that three female employees were compelled to take HIV tests and were summarily dismissed on 22 December 2025, regardless of their results. More than 60 male employees were not subjected to the same requirement, raising serious concerns of gender-based discrimination. ZDAMWU has described the conduct as sexual harassment, discrimination, and a violation of workers’ dignity and privacy.

Violation of the Constitution and Labour Laws

Zimbabwe’s Constitution guarantees equality before the law, freedom from discrimination, and the right to privacy, including confidentiality of personal medical information. Employers are expressly prohibited from compelling workers to disclose their HIV status.

The Cyber and Data Protection Act (2021) further criminalises the unauthorised disclosure of personal health data, including HIV status. ZDAMWU general secretary Justice Chinhema said the dismissals were unlawful and degrading. “It is unacceptable for employers to subject women to sexual harassment and flout the law with impunity,” Chinhema said. “We are demanding the immediate reinstatement of the affected workers.”

Police and Gender Commission Involved

The alleged dismissals reportedly followed the circulation of online content revealing one worker’s HIV status. The affected employee has since filed a police report at Nyathi Police Station, ZDAMWU has lodged a formal complaint with the Zimbabwe Gender Commission, which is now investigating the matter.

International labour support has also emerged. Paule-France Ndessomin, Sub-Saharan Africa regional secretary, warned that multinational companies must comply with Zimbabwean laws.

“Chinese multinational companies operating in Zimbabwe must adhere to national labour laws and international standards,” Ndessomin said. “We fully support ZDAMWU in seeking justice.”

Broader Pattern of Abuse in the Mining Sector

The case aligns with findings from a forthcoming research project conducted with the University of the Witwatersrand’s Southern Centre for Inequality Studies, titled Fighting Back: Labour Fragmentation in the Face of Capital.

The study documents systemic sexual harassment in Chinese-owned mines, including the targeting of “small Maria,” young, small-statured black female workers who are allegedly subjected to coercion, sexual exploitation, and abuse by supervisors. The research, due for publication in April, concludes that black women in Zimbabwe’s mining sector face persistent victimisation, calling for urgent regulatory and enforcement reforms.