Ever since Chinese nationals started flocking into Zimbabwe under the guise of all-weather friends during the time of the late former President Robert Mugabe, there has always been concern over their ill-treatment of locals.

In fact, this issue must be scaled up to the diplomatic level so that the Chinese government orients its citizens coming to invest in Zimbabwe on the need to respect the laws of the country and the rights of its citizens.

The fact that this Chinese entrepreneur decided to use a weapon to silence his employees over wages is not only uncalled for but shows the Chinese nationals’ disdain of their host.

The charade by the narrow-minded Chinese nationals across the nation pausing as Zimbabwe’s friends should just stop.

But if government fails to protect the citizens then Zimbabweans will certainly rise against the Chinese nationals wherever they are in this country — after all most of the businesses they are operating should have been reserved for locals.