Chinese employers bitten up by worker

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TWO Chinese men were last week taken to Gwanda Provincial Hospital after they were severely assaulted by their worker over unpaid wages.

Gilbert Daimon Mande (25) of K49556 Knowe Extension in Norton, appeared before Gwanda magistrate Mr Jimmy Ntonga on Friday facing two counts of assaulting Mr Ma Zong Qiang (27) and Mr Bai Qiang (24).

He was remanded out of custody to today on his own cognisance. Mr Zong Qiang and Mr Bai Qiang have a contract with Econet Wireless to construct a network booster in Gwanda town.

Allegations levelled against Mande are that on 9 October while at John Sly settlement in West Nicholson, he led other contract workers to confront their supervisors, Mr Zong Qiang and Mr Bai Qiang, for failing to pay their outstanding wages.

Mande and the other contract workers are allegedly owed close to US$1 000 each in unpaid wages. During the confrontation, Mande allegedly descended on Mr Zong Qiang and assaulted him with open hands several times on the face.

Mr Zong Qiang sensing more danger, then gave Mande about US$720 so that he could share with his colleague who is still at large. Mr Zong Qiang sustained injuries on the face and was referred to the hospital where he was treated and discharged.

The court also heard that on the same day in the evening, Mande confronted Mr Bai Qiang over the same issue. Mande assaulted Mr Bai Qiang with open hands on the face, resulting in him sustaining injuries, the court heard.

He was also treated at Gwanda Provincial Hospital and discharged the same day. A report was made to the police, leading to the arrest of Mande.