A much-anticipated stakeholders meeting in Magunje, set for Sunday to deliberate on the controversial cement plant project, was abruptly called off without any explanation.
The project, fronted by Chinese-owned Labenmon Investments in Hurungwe, Mashonaland West Province, has been mired in controversy.
Earlier this month, the Office of the President and Cabinet ordered its suspension amid allegations of irregular procedures and questionable land allocations.
Human rights defender and environmental activist Farai Maguwu, who is also the founding director of the Centre for Natural Resource Governance (CNRG), said close to 80 community members had packed into the boardroom for a meeting that never took place. Maguwu wrote on X:
“The Magunje stakeholders meeting scheduled for yesterday (Sunday) to discuss the controversial cement manufacturing plant was called off last minute.
“No explanation was given. Close to 80 community members had turned up & filled the Board room.
“The affected communities insist the project is too close to a community dam and also potentially harmful to their health due to air pollution.
“Some local politicians, accused of taking bribes from the Chinese, are adamant the project will go ahead in spite of community resistance.”
Traditional leaders and local authorities have voiced concern over how communal land was handed to the Chinese firm, alleging the process sidestepped key legal and administrative procedures.
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