THE HAGUE, Netherlands — Zimbabwean legislator and human rights lawyer Daniel Molokele has won the 2026 Senator Kimberley Kitching Prize for Courage in Defence of Democracy, using his acceptance speech to condemn alleged labour and environmental abuses by Chinese mining companies operating in Hwange.
The award was presented during the sixth annual summit of the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China (IPAC), held in The Hague, Netherlands, where lawmakers from across the world gathered to discuss human rights, democratic freedoms and authoritarian influence.
Molokele, the Member of Parliament for Hwange Central, accused Chinese-owned coal mining companies of exploiting local resources while neglecting communities, workers and the environment.
“The coal that God gave us has attracted investors from all over the world,” he said.
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“In my primary school years, the company that mined coal was called Anglo American Corporation. Today, many companies mine coal, and most of them are of Chinese origin.”
He criticised what he described as extractive mining practices that prioritise profits over community development.
“They do not care about investing in local communities. They do not care about labour rights or workers’ rights; neither do they care about protecting our local environment,” Molokele said.
“Our local communities are currently getting a raw deal from these Chinese companies.”
Molokele said these concerns had motivated him to join other parliamentarians in challenging the conduct of Chinese companies.
He said he joined IPAC in 2022 to work with legislators speaking out against injustices linked to China’s activities in Zimbabwe and elsewhere.
The Senator Kimberley Kitching Prize was established in 2025 in memory of Australian Senator Kimberley Kitching, a founding co-chair of IPAC in Australia, who died in March 2022 at age 52.
Kitching was a prominent advocate for human rights and democracy, particularly known for championing sanctions against individuals implicated in serious human rights violations and raising concerns over China’s treatment of Uyghurs. The award honours parliamentarians who demonstrate courage and integrity in defending democratic institutions and confronting authoritarian pressure.
Its inaugural recipient, Solomon Islands parliamentarian Peter Kenilorea Jr., received the honour at IPAC’s 2025 summit in Brussels for his stance against alleged foreign interference and political intimidation.
Molokele, a lawyer and longstanding human rights advocate, has served on parliamentary committees covering health, education and women’s affairs.
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