Jane Mlambo| Deputy Information minister, Energy Mutodi has lashed at the Chinese investors in Zimbabwe saying they have a bad reputation everywhere.

This follows clashes between the Goromonzi villagers and some Chinese investors who are alleged to have bribed the local chief and Councillors to get land for their project.

Mutodi said the community had rejected the project.

“The project has been condemned because the people involved in the whole issue, the district administrator, councillor and a company called GA Global did not do prior consultations with the people, now the firm has been going around trying to convince people to give in but that has failed,” he said.

“Their plan has failed (because) the Chinese have a bad reputation in other areas, where they have a record of not leaving anything meaningful for the locals. They do not develop, but rather leave a trail of destruction. The area they are targeting is a heritage conservation area and it is where the Bushmen did rock paintings so it must be protected for the future generations. There is need for further archaeological researches and many people stand to gain from that, so it is impossible for them to do their business here,” Mutodi said.