Zimbabwe school fights for survival as Chinese cement factory rises next door
CHEGUTU – A top private school in Zimbabwe, Bryden Country School, has raised alarm over the construction of a lime and cement factory less than 500 metres from its premises in Chegutu, saying the development poses serious health and safety risks to its pupils and staff.
In a letter to parents dated 16 August 2025, the school’s Board of Governors outlined a timeline of events leading to a legal battle with Chinese-owned Shuntai Holdings, the company behind the project.
The school said representatives of Shuntai first visited on 12 February 2025 to introduce the proposal, which was met with resistance from Bryden and local stakeholders, including the District Administrator (DA) and Rural District Council (RDC).
According to the school, concerns were raised that the prevailing south-easterly winds would carry dust and cement particles directly over the school, exposing children to pollutants linked to respiratory disease and lung cancer.
Despite objections, Shuntai reportedly insisted on going ahead with the project.
The school subsequently engaged legal and environmental experts, arguing that Shuntai lacked the proper documentation to operate in an education-zoned area, which also houses Springs of Grace, Seventh Day Adventist Secondary School and a university.
In March, the High Court issued an order for Shuntai to suspend all construction activities, but Bryden alleges the company continued work on site.
On 15 April, Shuntai obtained an Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) certificate from the Environmental Management Agency (EMA).
Bryden has since challenged the certification in court, claiming stakeholder concerns were not addressed. The matter has been referred to the Administrative Court, where a hearing date is still pending.
Despite ongoing court processes, the school said building activities have intensified, with pupils experiencing dust, fumes, and noise from heavy machinery.
On 25 July, a High Court judge visited the site and confirmed that Shuntai was in contempt of an earlier stop order, though construction reportedly continues.
Chairman of the Board of Governors, A. Noor, urged parents and the community to remain united in defending the school, warning that Shuntai appeared determined to defy court rulings.
“We are not yet out of the woods as Shuntai is determined to proceed even against the ruling of the High Court of Zimbabwe,” Noor wrote.
In April, the Centre for Natural Resource Governance (CNRG) released a report titled “Investments or Plunder?: An Assessment of the Impacts of Chinese Investments in Zimbabwe’s Extractive Sector”, raising alarm over the social, environmental, and economic costs of Zimbabwe’s deepening ties with China.
While acknowledging Chinese funding for long-stalled infrastructure projects such as the Matabeleland Zambezi Water Pipeline and Kunzvi Dam, as well as the surge in foreign direct investment that reached over US$2.5 billion by 2021, the report warned that these benefits have not translated into improved livelihoods for local communities.
Instead, the study highlighted that much of the investment has been concentrated in mining and agriculture, with Chinese companies dominating Zimbabwe’s lithium sector.
The report accused Chinese-owned mining firms of widespread labor abuses, exploitative practices, environmental destruction, and disregard for local cultures.
It cited disturbing incidents, including the 2020 shooting of employees in Gweru by a Chinese mine manager and allegations of artisanal miners being buried alive in Penhalonga.
CNRG argued that the Zimbabwean government has largely failed to address these abuses, attributing this inaction to China’s political and economic influence.
The watchdog concluded that while Chinese capital has boosted Zimbabwe’s economy in the face of Western sanctions, it has also entrenched corruption, deepened inequality, and fueled what many locals describe as a new form of colonisation.
