Recently, the Zimbabwe Environmental Management Agency (EMA) has ordered Wih-Zim Cement to immediately stop the construction of its Magunje plant. Inspectors found the company had breached environmental impact assessment (EIA) conditions, including failing to compensate relocated families. The Magunje Cement Plant, a partnership between Labenmon Investments and West International Holding, a subsidiary of Western Cement, plans to build a cement capacity of 1.2 million tons per year and a clinker capacity of 1.8 million tons per year, with a total investment of US $1 billion.
The EMA imposed a $5,000 fine on the company along with an enforcement order requiring that "all project implementation activities must cease until the EIA certificate conditions are complied with.". In its inspection report dated 16 July 2025, the EMA stated that the company had "disregarded the conditions in the EIA certificate for relocation and compensation of affected families in the implementation of the project".
The inspection was triggered by an interim order from the High Court and a community complaint. The inspection revealed that at least 20 families had lost farmland due to the diversion road built by the project, and one family's residence was still located within the project boundary. The local mayor of the village, Capere (Village Head Kapere), told inspectors that construction was continuing after the High Court ruled that all activities must be stopped until compensation was completed.
The villagers were represented by Tinashe Chinopfukutwa, a Zimbabwean lawyer. Inspectors noted that Wih-Zim had cleared 10 hectares of land, installed a mixer capable of producing 225 cubic meters of concrete per hour and started construction of staff quarters for 600 workers without fulfilling the mandatory relocation requirements.
The agency also found that the company had failed to obtain a community land occupation certificate from the Hurunguwe Rural District Council (Hurungwe Rural District Council), which was also a violation of the law. "Continuous monitoring of the project is critical as it is a sensitive and high-impact project," the EMA said. And warned that the cement plant project in Wih-Zim could not go ahead unless the affected families were compensated and relocated as required by law.