The Chinese Embassy in Harare Responds to Zimbabwe’s National Park Mining Ban

The Chinese embassy in Harare responded late last week to the Zimbabwean government’s surprise decision to ban all mining activities in the country’s five national parks and in most river beds. Although Information Minister Monica Mutsvangwa did not mention China by name when announcing the government’s new policies, the new policies appeared to be a reaction to the uproar over the news that a pair of Chinese mining companies had begun coal exploration in the Hwange national park.

The embassy, who had stayed quiet throughout the Hwange National Park controversy, published a statement last Thursday that commended the government’s actions. “We fully support a series of measures announced by the Cabinet of Zimbabwe to ensure sustainable mining operations in the country,” according to the statement published on the embassy’s Twitter feed.