A CHINESE firm, Ronchelle Private Limited, embroiled in a dispute with Norton residents over the planned rezoning of residential land into a mining site, made a surprising shift in its strategy last week.
The company announced plans to establish a rhino board manufacturing facility near the Knowe suburb, a significant departure from its initial proposal to develop a gypsum mine in the area. In May, Ronchelle had applied to the Norton Town Council to rezone the land for mining purposes, a move that sparked widespread protests from residents.
The community voiced strong opposition, urging authorities to allocate industrial projects to properly designated areas to avoid exposing people to toxins and other industrial hazards.
The Zimbabwe Independent learned that residents met with representatives of the Chinese investor in a series of fresh negotiations last weekend. However, despite these talks, the two sides failed to reach an agreement, according to meeting minutes. During the meeting, Ronchelle’s representatives revealed their revised plan: to set up a rhino board production facility that would utilise gypsum powder imported from Zambia. Rhino boards are manufactured using gypsum as a primary raw material.
“The investor...advised that he is not going to conduct mining, but they would be making rhino boards,” the meeting minutes note. The gypsum powder would be imported from Zambia. He emphasised that he was not into mining.”
The minutes also indicated that an assessment would be conducted to understand how the new project would operate. Additionally, a consultant representing Ronchelle pledged that 80% of the project's workforce would be recruited from Norton, a concession aimed at addressing local employment concerns.
A Member of Parliament (not named in the minutes) attended the meeting and pressed Ronchelle to provide firm assurances that the project would not pose environmental hazards to the community.
"The MP raised concerns regarding the social corporate responsibility of the investor. He expressed that Knowe has many challenges which the investor can assist in alleviating through social corporate responsibility,” the minutes state.
“He further expressed there is a challenge of trust deficit and there was a need for assurance of what the investor will be willing to provide to the community if the residents support the change of use. The Knowe residents raised concerns regarding the history of Chinese investors abusing workers at their work places.”
In response, the consultant suggested that Knowe residents visit other businesses owned by the investor to observe how the firm treats its employees. The consultant also cited the Regional, Town and Country Planning Act Chapter 29:12, which permits such a change of land use.
As the standoff continues, residents remain cautious, demanding more concrete commitments to ensure that their health and safety are not compromised by the proposed development.
