The High Court has ordered a Chinese-owned cement manufacturer to immediately stop operations in Magunje, Hurungwe, Mashonaland West, after being found guilty of defying a previous court order.
The ruling comes after villagers, represented by Gift Kapere and Jonathan Chimufombo, filed an urgent application with the support of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) lawyers Tinashe Chinopfukutwa and Kelvin Kabaya. The community accused Lebanmon Investments and its representative Daniel Mlalazi of unlawfully pushing ahead with the construction of a cement plant on their farming and grazing land.
The villagers say they turned to the courts after receiving no assistance from state institutions, including the Environmental Management Authority (EMA), the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC), and the Ministry of Local Government, despite repeated complaints.
Court Orders and Penalties
In February, Justice Philda Muzofa ordered the company to halt all preparatory works at the proposed Wih-Zim Construction Material Investments plant until EMA completed its investigations.
However, after reports that Lebanmon Investments continued with operations in defiance of the directive, the villagers filed for contempt of court.
In her latest ruling on October 1, Justice Muzofa fined the Chinese company US$3,000 and issued a stern warning. She also handed a 30-day suspended sentence, on condition that the company immediately complies with the order to stop all construction works.
EMA’s Position
This is not the first time the company has been penalised. In August, EMA fined the cement manufacturer US$5,000 for violating the terms of its Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) certificate. The EIA explicitly prohibits any activity before affected villagers are properly compensated and relocated.
EMA, tasked with ensuring sustainable natural resource management and environmental protection, has repeatedly reminded developers that compliance with EIA conditions is mandatory.
Community Outcry
Villagers say they were never consulted about the project and only became aware of it when the company moved in and fenced off large portions of their land in December 2023. Their grievances were also tabled before Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Lands, Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation in October last year.
The controversial project has even caused rifts within Zanu PF, with party officials reportedly split over whether the cement plant should continue.
For now, the High Court ruling effectively halts the Chinese company’s Magunje operations, with villagers vowing to continue defending their land rights.
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