Displaying items by tag: West International Holding

Zimbabwe: The Environmental Management Agency (EMA) has ordered WIH-Zim Cement, a joint venture between West International Holding and Labenmon Investments, to stop construction of its Magunje cement plant after inspectors found violations of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) conditions, including failure to compensate displaced households, according to Bulawayo 24 News. The EMA fined the company US$5000 and issued an enforcement order halting all activity until ‘EIA certificate conditions are adhered to.’

An inspection on 16 July 2025 revealed that construction continued despite High Court directives and community complaints. At least 20 households have reportedly lost farmland to a diversion road, while one homestead lies within the project boundary. Inspectors reported that WIH-Zim had already cleared 10 hectares of land and begun building staff quarters for 600 workers without meeting relocation requirements. The EMA also reportedly found that the company had failed to obtain a Communal Lands Occupation Certificate from Hurungwe Rural District Council. The EMA said “Continuous monitoring of the project is essential as this is a sensitive high-impact project,” warning that construction cannot resume until all affected families are compensated and relocated.

Local press reported in May 2025 that the cement plant was ‘progressing well,’ with the completion of site levelling and connection to the national power grid established and 60 local people already employed.

Mozambique: Moçambique Dugongo Cimentos will invest US$35m in a third cement plant in Ancuabe, Cabo Delgado province, according to local press. The plant is presumed to be a grinding facility due to the value of the investment. Project coordinator Anselmo Amurane said that the plant’s design is under development, with community consultations completed and environmental assessments pending. The start date for construction was not disclosed.

Amurane said “We hope to contribute to increasing the overall cement supply and production capacity,” adding that the project would employ 900 construction workers and 135 operational workers.

Moçambique Dugongo Cimentos is a joint venture between Mozambique-based SPI Gestão and China-based West International Holding. The plant operates two plants in the cities of Maputo and Nacala.

Zimbabwe: The Centre for Natural Resource Governance (CNRG) has called on the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development to suspend operations on a US$1bn cement project in Magunje, Mashonaland West, citing ‘a spiralling crisis’ of human rights abuses, forced displacements and environmental harm, according to Pindula News. The project is led by Labenmon Investments, in partnership with China-based West International Holding. It is expected to produce 0.9Mt/yr of cement and 1.8Mt/yr of clinker. The project will reportedly create 5000 jobs and spur local development, but CNRG has raised concerns on behalf of local communities.

There have been reports that communities have been forcefully removed from their ancestral lands and graves of relatives ‘desecrated’ in the wake of mining developments. The group also raised concerns about alleged ‘fraudulent consultations,’ with legally required village meetings bypassed and affected communities excluded from decision-making processes. The newspaper also reported that eight villagers from Kapere were arrested for standing up to the mining project and continue to be summoned to the court despite the complainants failing to appear. CNRG staff members also reportedly faced threats from the Zimbabwe National Army while conducting an inspection in Kemapondo village.

There are also reports of the local Magunje Dam being polluted by the cement plant and of fires sparked during land clearing exercises, which have razed farmlands. There are also concerns of labour violations, with employees allegedly working in dangerous conditions, below the minimum wage and without formal contracts. The Zimbabwe Diamond and Allied Minerals Workers Union has escalated the matter to the Labour Court.

Zimbabwe: Villagers in Hurungwe District are protesting against a cement and power plant project by WHI-ZIM Construction Material Investments, alleging illegal land seizures, lack of compensation and environmental risks. WHI-ZIM, a joint venture between Lebanmon Investments and West International Holding, has pledged US$1bn for the project in Mashonaland West, promising 5000 jobs and local infrastructure upgrades. However, more than 80 families face displacement without clear relocation or compensation plans, according to Zim Live news. Residents accuse the company of forcibly depositing materials on communal land without legal permits. Chief Chanetsa of Hurungwe endorsed the project on 135 hectares, citing community benefits, including schools, clinics, boreholes and a 45km road.

He said “If there is any field affected within these 135 hectares, we have agreed with the company that it shall fully compensate the affected area.”

Environmentalists and villagers have warned of risks to Magunje Dam, the villagers’ water source located 1.4km from the plant. They allege irregularities in the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), which mandates compensation and relocation before work begins.

Residents claim WHI-ZIM ignored EIA conditions and began fencing communal land in July 2024.

A community activist said “The corruption here is blatant. People are being forced off their land while officials look the other way.”

Ethiopia: Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has inaugurated the Lemi National Cement Factory, built by a joint venture between West International Holding, the African arm of West China Cement, and East African Holding Company. With a production capacity of 15,000t/day, this facility is now reportedly the largest in Ethiopia, according to Xinhua news. Located 150km north of the capital city of Addis Ababa in the Lemi Building Materials Industrial Park, the project cost US$600m.

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said "The project exemplifies the swift and efficient delivery of crucial infrastructure. Congratulations to all those involved in realising this important project, which now produces 50% of the cement made by plants across the country."

Zimbabwe: The Zimbabwe National Water Authority (ZINWA) has addressed public concerns about the potential environmental impact of a new US$1bn cement plant being established in Magunje by Labenmon Investments and West International Holdings. Amid fears of pollution to the nearby Kemureza Dam, ZINWA has assured residents that the project will not compromise the water source that serves over 10,000 people.

During an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) consultation in Chinhoyi, ZINWA’s head of corporate communications and marketing, Majorie Munyonga, emphasised that the cement plant will rely on boreholes for its water needs, thereby safeguarding the dam. The project is currently undergoing further EIA stakeholder consultations to integrate community and environmental considerations.

The Herald newspaper has reported that the initiative by Labenmon Investments is expected to generate around 5000 jobs. However, the Zimbabwe National Organisation of Associations and Residents Trust (ZNOART), representing the concerns of Magunje and Hurungwe residents, has petitioned for a reassessment of the site to mitigate any adverse impacts on the local ecosystem, health and livelihoods. It has stressed the importance of compliance with the Environmental Management Act and the Zimbabwe National Water Authority Act.

Uganda: West International Holding has commenced construction of a US$200m cement factory on 50 acres in Buikwe District, reports the Daily Monitor. The plant is located in Njeru municipality and construction is expected to complete by August 2025. It will employ 1800 workers and produce 4000t/day of cement.

Ambrose Byona, group director, said “This factory is going to support markets in the Central (Kampala areas), Mwanza in Tanzania and Mugingo in Kenya. We also want to use the railway to transport these products to avoid wearing out the road with loaded trucks.” The project will also provide a health centre and a school for the community.

Balaam Barugahara, state minister for gender, labour and social development, assured that local youth employment will be prioritised. However, Njeru municipality mayor Yassin Kyaze asked the company not to exploit employees like most plants in Njeru municipality are allegedly doing, saying such conduct has cast most plants negatively in the public domain.

Ethiopia: The Lemi National Cement Factory is preparing to start production. The 8Mt/yr plant is expected to be completed in March 2024, according to the Xinhua News Agency. China-based Sinoma International Engineering is building the unit. The US$600m project is a joint venture between West International Holding, a subsidiary West China Cement, and the East African Holding Company. The plant is located at the Lemi Building Materials Industrial Park around 150km north of Addis Ababa.

Zimbabwe: Labenmon Investments and China-based West International Holding have partnered for the construction of the planned US$1bn Magunje cement plant in Mashonaland West. The plant will have an integrated capacity of 900,000t/yr, and additional clinker capacity of 1.8Mt/yr. The Zimbabwe Mail newspaper has reported that it will also be equipped with 100MW captive power plant. Construction of a building materials production complex in neighbouring Karoi will commence in parallel with the Magunje cement plant project. Construction of the Magunje plant will generate 5000 jobs in the local area, according to West International Holding. The partners expect the plant, when operational, to help to close a local supply gap.

Ethiopia: Lemi National Cement Factory’s construction of its upcoming Lemi cement plant is 70% complete and will conclude in time for inauguration of the plant on schedule in early 2024. Ethiopian News Agency has reported that construction of the 8Mt/yr plant’s preheater frames and rotary kilns finished on 28 November 2023. China-based Sinoma International Engineering is carrying out the project, which has a total cost of US$600m. Lemi National Cement Factory is a joint venture of local conglomerate East African Holding and West China Cement subsidiary West International Holding.