By Staff Reporter
Bryden School’s Board of Governors says it is still waiting for clarity from the Environmental Management Agency (EMA) following the school’s resistance to a Chinese cement manufacturing company’s planned operations near its premises.
Last month, the school launched a legal battle against the construction of a lime and cement factory just 500 metres from its boundary. The school argued that the project would expose learners to serious health and environmental risks.
Despite a High Court order on March 25 directing Shuntai Investments to suspend all activities, the company has reportedly pressed ahead, releasing toxic dust, noxious fumes, loud blasting, and heavy machinery noise into the community.
In a circular to parents, Bryden’s Board of Governors noted that Shuntai’s Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) was approved by EMA despite overlooking key zoning and health concerns in an area designated for education. The school has since sued EMA, while a judge inspected the site and later ruled that Shuntai was in contempt of court.
In its latest circular, the board expressed frustration at EMA’s silence.
“We therefore continue at the mercy of the Minister of the Environment, Climate and Wildlife, Honorable Dr. Evelyn Ndlovu, to hear our application in the Administrative Court. Our submission to this Honorable Court was on 28 May 2025,” the school said.
“Further, we have not received any written response from the Provincial Director of EMA since our meeting in February 2025. The silence from this Ministry on this most important environmental issue is deafening.”
The matter has since been raised in Parliament, while Chegutu Municipality has acknowledged in its Masterplan that Bryden and nearby institutions are reserved for education, not industrial activity.
Bryden also acknowledged government officials for stepping in.
“Firstly, the Bryden Board, parents and staff would like to thank Joint Operations Command Mashonaland West for visiting the school and the Shuntai cement factory site on a fact-finding mission on 11 September 2025.
“We thank them for taking their time and being thorough and diligent in this regard. The delegation noted that the distances provided by Shuntai Investments and EMA are highly questionable. They also queried the continuation of work at the Shuntai site in disregard of the High Court order issued on 25 March 2025.
“We also thank the Chegutu Municipality for attending the meeting and providing the official Masterplan map. This confirmed that Bryden and three other learning institutions are in the education zone, and that both schools and planned low-density housing would be negatively affected by a cement factory.
“In addition, we also wish to let you know that the Bryden-Shuntai issue has been raised in Parliament this week. We will release any new developments as they come through,” the School said
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