Ziyambi Ziyambi Allegedly Took $75K Bribe to Defy Mnangagwa’s Halt on Magunje Cement Plant

Ziyambi Ziyambi Allegedly Took $75K Bribe to Defy Mnangagwa’s Halt on Magunje Cement Plant

By Noko Mabofa Maleka | Insight Jozi News | 30 July 2025

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In a bombshell development that could shake the political and environmental landscape in Zimbabwe, Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi has allegedly accepted a $75,000 bribe from Chinese investors backing the controversial Magunje Cement Plant—a project that President Emmerson Mnangagwa has ordered to be stopped due to serious environmental concerns.

The Allegation: Bribes, PR Stunts, and Political Maneuvers

Sources who attended a closed-door meeting at Chinhoyi University of Technology say Ziyambi met with Chinese investors aligned with Thomas Chidzomba and allegedly accepted the bribe in exchange for influencing Mnangagwa to reverse his decision to halt the plant’s construction.

At the meeting, Ziyambi reportedly proposed:

Lobbying the Minister of Industry and Minister of Environment to visit the site and issue favorable statements,

Organizing a media tour with Mary Mliswa-Chikoka, ZANU PF’s Mashonaland West Provincial Chairperson and Hurungwe RDC Chairperson,

Paying selected journalists to write glowing reports on the cement project,

And using his position in the justice system to challenge the President’s directive in court.

Ziyambi also allegedly discussed rallying local councillors to petition government for the project's reinstatement.

Mnangagwa’s Directive: Halt the Plant Immediately

According to NewsDay Zimbabwe, President Mnangagwa recently ordered that the Magunje Cement Plant project be halted, citing its failure to meet Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) standards and its threat to public health and local water sources. The plant’s proximity to the Kemureza Dam, a critical water source for nearby villages, schools, a hospital, and an army barracks, raised red flags at the highest level.

Following the directive, Tafadzwa Muguti, the Permanent Secretary for Presidential Affairs and Devolution, was dispatched to Mashonaland West to ensure the President’s order is fully implement

Environmental Destruction & Community Displacement

Environmental watchdogs and local residents have raised concerns over

Pollution of drinking water,

Evictions of villagers without compensation,

Desecration of ancestral graves, and

Bribery of Environmental Management Authority (EMA) and ZINWA officials to approve flawed environmental assessments.

A recent report by the Centre for Natural Resource Governance (CNRG) documented widespread abuse—including the burning of fields, assault of villagers, and employment of unpaid or underpaid laborers—all in violation of environmental and labor laws.

Political Tensions in ZANU PF

Ziyambi’s maneuvering has deepened divisions within ZANU PF’s Mashonaland West leadership. While some officials—including Mary Mliswa-Chikoka—are allegedly benefiting financially from Chinese interests, others are standing firmly behind Mnangagwa’s halt, warning that ignoring environmental regulations could lead to long-term reputational damage for the ruling party.

Community Resistance Grows

The Zimbabwe National Organization of Residents Trust (ZNOART) and other civic groups have launched petitions and campaigns demanding the permanent cancellation of the cement project at its current location. Their calls are echoed by environmentalists, churches, and human rights organizations.

> “Our water, our land, our lives are not for sale,” said a Magunje villager. “No cement is worth our children drinking poisoned water.”

As the allegations against Ziyambi unfold, Zimbabweans are watching closely. The future of Magunje, its people, and its environment hangs in the balance.

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