Vongai Masuka

A Chinese investor was reportedly struck and killed by lightning yesterday at the site of the WIH-ZIM cement plant in Magunje, Mashonaland West.

The incident occurred shortly after a high-profile visit by the Minister of Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Marian Chombo.

The tragedy has added a grim chapter to the ongoing conflict between the community and the US$700 million project, which has faced fierce resistance over environmental and land rights concerns.

Human rights activist and environmentalist Farai Maguwu reported the incident on social media, describing the weather conditions at the time as unusual.

According to Maguwu, the sky was clear and blue throughout the Minister’s solidarity tour of the facility.

However, shortly after her departure, a localized cloud formed over the plant.

“The sky was blue, but after Marian’s visit, there was a small cloud covering the area, and then the lightning struck,” Maguwu wrote.

The unidentified investor was rushed to Magunje Hospital before being transferred to Karoi Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.

The WIH-ZIM plant, a joint venture between West International Holdings and Labenmon Investments, is a massive industrial undertaking designed to produce 1.8 million tonnes of cement and 1.2 million tonnes of clinker annually.

Despite its scale and the promise of 5,000 jobs, the project has been mired in controversy as local residents fear the plant is situated too close to a vital community dam, risking water contamination.

In late 2025, the High Court found Labenmon Investments in contempt of court for continuing operations despite a suspension order related to Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) violations.

Community leaders have also accused the developers of desecrating ancestral graves and displacing families without fair compensation.

While the Magunje community continues to lobby for the project’s relocation, the Zimbabwean political leadership has maintained that the investment is critical for the nation’s industrialization goals.