Chinese infrastructure projects in africa trigger crackdown on environmental journalists

Environmental journalists across Africa are facing increasing intimidation and police harassment when reporting on the ecological damage caused by China’s massive overseas infrastructure projects, according to a new investigation. The pressure campaign appears to extend far beyond China’s borders, targeting reporters who document the environmental costs of Beijing’s trillion-dollar Belt and Road Initiative.

Tawanda Majoni, one of Zimbabwe’s most prominent journalists, experienced this intimidation firsthand when mysterious phone calls began flooding his device—calls that were later traced back to federal police units. Majoni’s case illustrates a broader pattern of surveillance and pressure tactics being used against reporters who investigate how Chinese-funded dams, mines, and development projects are affecting local ecosystems and communities across the African continent.

This systematic silencing of environmental journalism represents a significant threat to transparency around one of the world’s largest infrastructure programs. The Belt and Road Initiative has funded hundreds of projects across Africa, from hydroelectric dams that alter river ecosystems to mining operations that can contaminate local water supplies. When journalists attempt to document these environmental impacts, they increasingly find themselves facing official pressure, surveillance, and in some cases, direct threats to their safety.

The intimidation campaign highlights the growing intersection between press freedom and environmental accountability. As climate change and environmental degradation become increasingly urgent global issues, the ability of journalists to report freely on these topics—regardless of which powerful interests might be affected—becomes crucial for informed public discourse and environmental protection.