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In a court affidavit, police said Zhang Xuen shot an employee five times and wounded another at the mine he runs in Gweru province, in central Zimbabwe, during a row with workers over outstanding pay.
Zhang has been charged him with attempted murder, said Zimbabwe police spokesman Paul Nyathi.
The shooting happened on Sunday morning, when miner Kenneth Tachiona confronted Zhang after he allegedly refused to pay his wages in US dollars, as agreed, according to the affidavit.
Tachiona charged toward Zhang, who then drew his gun, shooting the worker three times on his right thigh and twice on the left, according to the affidavit.
Police said Zhang fired another shot at workers, and one of the bullets grazed the chin of a member of staff. The wounded workers are being treated at a private hospital.
A video that many alleged to be of the incident has circulated on social media in Zimbabwe, provoking public anger and calls from a local watchdog for a re-evaluation of Chinese mining operations in the country.
CNN has not been able to verify the video independently.
The Chinese Embassy in Zimbabwe described the shooting as an isolated incident and said it was in support of an open and transparent probe by local authorities.
Dangerous conditions
China is Zimbabwe's largest foreign investor with significant interests in the country's extractive sector.
But their presence in the country has sometimes been controversial.
Several cases of Chinese miners refusing to pay salaries or provide their workers with protective clothing, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic, are currently being investigated by ZELA, according to its deputy director Shamiso Mutisi
"It has become a pattern and a system. We have cases where miners are abused, beaten, and discriminated against by Chinese miners," Mutisi said.
Sunday's shooting is another reason for the government to rethink its political and economic engagements with China, the group said.
"In many parts of Africa, including Zimbabwe, Chinese mining investors have exhibited a history of bad safety, health, environmental, labor, and human rights standards," the statement said.
CNN has contacted China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs for comment.
The Chinese community in Gweru has distanced itself from the recent incident and promised to pay for injured workers' medical bills and support their families as they deal with the issue.
The Chinese community said in a statement the incident does not reflect the behavior of its members, and they have engaged the company to compensate the workers.
"We sincerely hope that our friendship and cooperation between the two countries and two peoples will not be sullied by this isolated incident, which does not reflect the behavior of us all as the Chinese community," the statement read.