By Elvis Dumba | Chinhoyi
Engineer Tafadzwa Muguti, Permanent Secretary for Provincial Affairs and Devolution, has reaffirmed that while Zimbabwe is open to investment, all investors must comply with the country’s laws.
Speaking during a joint Provincial Development Committee and Zanu PF Provincial Coordination Committee meeting in Chinhoyi, Muguti addressed concerns surrounding the proposed Magunje Cement Plant in Hurungwe.
Despite the project’s economic potential, it reportedly violated several legal and procedural requirements.
“We welcome investors, but they must operate within the law,” Muguti said. “The Magunje Cement Plant did not follow proper procedures — it lacked a ZIDA license, was built on communal land without proper allocation, and began operations without full government approval.”
He questioned how the Environmental Management Agency (EMA) issued an impact assessment certificate without land title and raised concerns about community displacement, including grave site disturbances and inadequate public consultation.
The Chinese-backed project, led by Labenmon Investments and fronted by former Zanu PF candidate Thomas Chidzomba, aims to produce 0.9Mt of cement and 1.8Mt of clinker annually.
However, Muguti revealed irregularities were flagged as early as September 2024, with the President later ordering a halt until compliance is ensured.
“We’ve paused legal action to give the developers a chance to regularize the project and relocate it appropriately,” he said.
Justice Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi recently toured the site, calling it a potential “economic game-changer” for Hurungwe.
However, Muguti stressed the supremacy of the ruling party over government operations, urging close coordination to align projects with national goals.
Mashonaland West Minister of State, Hon. Marian Chombo, and Provincial Chairman Mary Mliswa-Chikoka echoed the call for stronger collaboration between government and party structures.
Chombo emphasized ongoing reviews of the Provincial Economic Development Plan to align with Vision 2030, ensuring inclusivity and sustained growth.
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