The Chinese embassy in Zimbabwe renewed its critique of local and Western media’s ‘slander’ against Chinese companies in the country in a lengthy post published Wednesday on its website. Under the headline “False News and Truth,” it listed examples of what it called “irresponsible” reporting about labor and environmental conditions on Chinese worksites.
What makes this so interesting is that the embassy in Harare is far more persistent and outspoken than any other Chinese mission on the continent in critiquing media coverage of Chinese stakeholders in Zimbabwe.
The broadside rebutted several press reports in detail, in some cases reprinting letters from the embassy and the companies pointing out reporting errors. The articles in question were mostly from Zimbabwean publications, although The Guardian (UK) also came in for criticism.
The embassy has been involved in a months-long showdown between the country’s largest Chinese business association and a group of civil society organizations complaining about environmental and labor infractions by Chinese companies. Officials from Zimbabwe’s ruling ZANU-PF party have also defended Chinese investors.
