Chinese construction workers bash cops

The Chinese company was contracted to build a five-star hotel near the National sports stadium outside the capital.

Langford Sibindi, a labourer at the construction company said he was attacked on Monday night after complaining to one of the Chinese that he needed to rest as he was having some back pains.

“I was beaten up by my boss with a shovel after I complained of a back ache and I went and reported the matter to the police, but even the two police officers whom I had brought were also assaulted”, he said.

Sibindi said the cops received a thorough bashing after they attempted to handcuff one of the Chinese.

“One officer tried to apply handcuffs on one of the Chinese, but the police officer was shoved and beaten up by the Chinese man who teamed up with his colleagues, subsequently tearing the cop’s uniform,” said Sibindi.

Sibindi claimed that the cops called for back-up from Milton Police Station, but nothing happened to the Chinese assailants although he was taken to Milton Park police station, where a police was written, authorizing that he gets free medical examination.

Part of the document read: “The complainant was assaulted by a booted leg at the back and a shovel on the right hand, the complainant is experiencing internal injuries to the right hand.”

Harare provincial police spokesperson inspector Tedius Chibande could neither confirm nor deny the incident, claiming he was yet to receive the report.

“I am not sure about that because I have spent most of my day locked up in a workshop, I will try to find out when I am free”, he said.

Suspicion is rife that the Chinese businessmen are being protected by influential Zanu PF politicians with contracts of supplying services at the construction site.

Reports gathered from workers at the construction site showed that they were exposed to brutality by their Chinese superiors, who they said were not facing prosecution.