Bryden School secures court order to stop cement plant construction

Source: The Herald – Breaking news.

Fidelis Munyoro

Bryden Country School in Chegutu has obtained a High Court interim order stopping the construction of a cement manufacturing plant near its premises.

The project, led by Shuntai Investments Private Limited, intends to produce 800 000 tonnes of cement annually and provide 800 jobs.

The school raised concerns over environmental and health risks associated with the development.

In response, Justice Regis Dembure instructed Shuntai and its affiliates to suspend all activities related to the cement factory, brick moulding plant, and quarry mining project at Plot 8, Eastbourne in Chegutu.

Shuntai had proceeded with the project despite lacking an Environmental and Social Impact Assessment Certificate, development permits, and land tenure documents.

This violated a previous penalty issued by the Environmental Management Agency for non-compliance.

Bryden School, represented by Mr Joshua George Manyumbu and Mr Andrea Dracos of Gollop & Blank, argued that the project could harm buildings, expose students and staff to harmful pollutants such as cement dust and benzene, as well as coal-burning emissions.

Shuntai failed to come to court to contest the matter.