MAGUNJE
–
Villagers
in
Hurungwe
district
are
raising
alarm
over
a
Chinese-owned
cement
project
they
allege
has
proceeded
through
illegal
means,
threatening
their
homes,
livelihoods,
and
the
local
environment.
The
Hurungwe
Rural
District
Council
(HRDC)
has
called
for
an
inception
meeting
on
Wednesday,
11
December,
to
introduce
WHI-ZIM
Construction
Material
Investments
Pvt
Ltd
project,
but
critics
claim
the
process
is
marred
by
corruption
and
disregard
for
due
process.
WHI-ZIM,
a
joint
venture
between
Lebanmon
Investments
and
West
International
Holding,
has
promised
to
invest
US$1
billion
in
Mashonaland
West’s
cement
industry,
and
further
promised
to
create
5,000
jobs
and
boost
foreign
currency
earnings.
However,
villagers
from
Chasara
and
Kapere
say
the
project
comes
at
a
steep
cost,
with
over
80
families
facing
displacement.
Elderly
residents,
including
a
partially
blind
woman
in
her
70s,
have
been
particularly
affected.
Vegetable
gardens
were
burnt
down,
fields
cordoned
off,
and
three
women,
two
of
whom
are
over
70,
were
apprehended
and
charged
with
malicious
damage
to
property
for
allegedly
unlawfully
entering
their
fields.
The
matter
remains
before
the
courts.
Additional
arrests
followed,
with
others
accused
of
disturbing
the
peace
and
aiding
alleged
invaders.
Despite
the
promises
of
economic
transformation,
the
villagers
argue
that
the
human
toll
has
been
devastating.
Residents
accuse
company
representatives,
accompanied
by
armed
police,
of
forcibly
depositing
construction
materials
on
communal
land
without
legal
permits
or
occupancy
certificates.
They
are
also
furious
at
Chief
Chanetsa
of
Hurungwe
who
endorsed
the
construction
of
a
cement
and
power
station
plant
on
135
hectares
of
land
at
Katenhe
Turn-Off,
Ward
11,
Magunje
Constituency.
In
a
letter
to
the
HRDC,
Chief
Chanetsa
said
the
project,
spearheaded
by
Labenmon
Investments,
promises
significant
community
benefits,
including
the
construction
of
six
classroom
blocks,
two
clinics,
10
solar-powered
boreholes,
and
a
45km
concrete
road.
“If
there
is
any
field
affected
within
these
135
hectares,
we
have
agreed
with
the
company
that
it
shall
fully
compensate
the
affected
area,”
Chief
Chanetsa
wrote.
“In
my
capacity
as
the
Chief
responsible
for
the
area
of
the
proposed
cement
and
power
station
plant…I
have
no
objection
to
such
a
big
project
which
will
contribute
more
to
the
vision
of
My
President.”
He
spoke
even
as
the
cement
plant,
located
less
than
1.4
kilometers
upstream
of
Magunje
Dam,
has
raised
concerns
among
environmentalists.
The
dam,
the
district’s
primary
water
source,
sustains
agriculture
and
local
ecosystems.
Critics
warn
that
emissions
and
pollutants
could
contaminate
the
dam,
causing
irreversible
damage.
Villagers
also
allege
irregularities
in
the
project’s
Environmental
Impact
Assessment
(EIA).
Approved
under
EMA
Certificate
No.
10000034346,
the
EIA
lists
conditions,
including
the
protection
of
Kamreza
Dam
and
compliance
with
environmental
laws.
Local
residents
say
the
assessment
failed
to
address
critical
risks,
such
as
air
and
water
pollution.
Consultations
were
reportedly
held
120
kilometers
away
in
Chinhoyi,
with
findings
never
shared
locally.
“The
corruption
here
is
blatant.
People
are
being
forced
off
their
land
while
officials
look
the
other
way,”
said
a
community
activist
who
requested
anonymity
fearing
reprisals.
Insiders
revealed
that
WHI-ZIM
began
fencing
off
communal
land
in
July
2024,
despite
lacking
an
occupancy
certificate,
leaving
families
landless
ahead
of
the
farming
season
and
depriving
livestock
of
grazing
areas.
Seasonal
gardens
and
vital
resources
were
also
destroyed
during
the
fencing
off
period,
disrupting
livelihoods,
villagers
said,
adding
that
the
fenced
area
is
now
a
no-go-area.
The
Environmental
Impact
Assessment
(EIA)
certificate
issued
by
the
Environmental
Management
Agency
(EMA)
explicitly
requires
that
no
project
activities
proceed
until
all
affected
individuals
are
compensated
and
relocated,
as
outlined
in
its
special
conditions.
The
EIA
seen
by
Kukurigo
also
requires
compliance
with
air
pollution
laws,
and
the
installation
of
emissions
monitoring
systems.
It
is
not
clear
if
this
has
been
put
in
place
as
noncompliance
could
result
in
the
cancellation
of
the
EIA
certificate
under
Section
104
of
the
Environmental
Management
Act.
“Compensation
and
relocation
of
all
the
affected
households
should
be
done
and
finalized
before
any
commencement
of
works,”
the
EIA
states.
However,
villagers
claim
there
has
been
no
communication
regarding
relocation
or
compensation.
Multiple
complaints
have
been
sent
to
EMA,
the
Zimbabwe
Anti-Corruption
Commission
(ZACC),
and
the
Ministry
of
Local
Government,
among
others,
but
residents
say
they
have
received
no
responses
since
May
2024.
The
HRDC’s
last-minute
meeting
invitation
has
only
deepened
mistrust.
“Why
involve
us
now,
after
the
project
is
already
underway?
And
in
any
case
we
are
being
arrested
if
we
go
into
our
gardens.
This
seems
like
a
way
to
legitimize
decisions
made
in
secret,”
said
a
resident.
Villagers
are
demanding
transparency,
a
halt
to
the
project,
and
meaningful
consultations
before
further
action
is
taken.
“Our
only
hope
now
is
the
President,”
said
one
villager,
expressing
frustration
over
inaction
from
authorities.