BIKITA-Samuel Gwareba has apologised after a video emerged of him assaulting Yang Zhanhui, a Zimbabwean-based Chinese national who is his employer contracted by Xinhai.
Xinhai is a leading mining and plant construction company which provides mineral processing technology and equipment.
In an apology, Gwareba acknowledged the “brutal and unrestrained” violence and admitted “violent incident stemmed from a misunderstanding fuelled by a language barrier”.
“My sincere apologies I Samuel Gwarega assaulted Mr Yang on the 29th of August 2023. We gathered, approached him, and asked him to pay us our August salaries earlier. The demand came after we learnt that his visa had expired and he was due to fly back to China.
“Unfortunately, due to a language barrier, Yang was unable to provide a satisfactory response to the employees, resulting in an escalation of the situation and the eventual outbreak of violence”, said Gwareba.
He dismissed social media rumours insinuating that Yang was assaulted over alleged “unpaid wages”.
“I hereby declare that the argument was about the August salary only and Xinhai has never defaulted on employees’ salaries”.
Gwareba’s report validates the statement issued by his company Xinhai on Monday.
“Xinhai operates within the parameters of the law and is committed to upholding the highest standards of employees’ ethics and legality. Contrary to online rumours, the assault did not stem from unpaid wages owed by Zhanhui Yang to local employees. This assertion is false.
“According to the company’s regulations, the wages of local employees are paid on the 2nd of each month, and the company has never defaulted on these payments. However, in response to the employees request and to further calm the situation, the payment of August salaries was made”.
Yang Zhanui has since returned to China and agreed to withdraw criminal charges laid against Gwareba.
