The Environmental Management Agency (EMA) has fined Chinese-owned Labenmon Investments US$5,000 for breaching environmental regulations at its Wih-Zim Construction Material Investments cement manufacturing plant in Magunje, Hurungwe District.
EMA, the statutory body responsible for sustainable natural resource management and environmental protection, found that Labenmon Investments had failed to comply with conditions set in its Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Certificates (numbers L10000034346 and L10000099080) before commencing works on the site.
The violations came to light following an EMA inspection in July, which was mandated by Chinhoyi High Court Judge Justice Philda Muzofa on 4 February 2025.
The court had ordered EMA to investigate alleged breaches of special EIA conditions after complaints from residents of Chasara and Kapere villages, who claimed the company had encroached on their farming and grazing land.
Justice Muzofa had also halted further project activities at the cement plant pending the outcome of EMA’s investigations.
However, villagers reported that construction continued, prompting them to file a contempt of court application on 26 February 2025 with the assistance of Tinashe Chinopfukutwa and Kelvin Kabaya of the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights. T
he High Court has yet to rule on the matter.
EMA confirmed that Labenmon Investments had carried out ground clearing and levelling on 10 hectares, built staff quarters, and moulded bricks at the site, all while failing to adhere to key EIA conditions.
These included relocating and compensating affected families and addressing the impact of a diversion road on villagers’ fields.
In addition, the company did not present a Communal Lands Occupation certificate from Hurungwe Rural District Council, as required under section 9 of the Communal Lands Act, before starting work.
EMA has ordered Labenmon Investments to halt all project activities until it fully complies with EIA requirements.
The agency also recommended continuous monitoring of the project due to its high environmental impact.
