Upmarket Glen Lorne residents secure court order halting Chinese company's wetland construction

Residents of Harare’s upmarket Glen Lorne suburb have secured a court order stopping a Chinese-owned company from carrying out works on a legally protected wetland while they challenge the development in the High Court.

The interim order was granted by consent in Chambers before Justice Samuel Deme on Monday after 26 residents, led by businessman Shingayi Mutasa, approached the court seeking an interdict against Zhuomu International (Private) Limited.

Mutasa, the founder and group chief executive of Masawara, is a prominent Zimbabwean businessman whose interests span hotels, insurance, fertiliser manufacturing and leisure centres.

The dispute concerns Stand 4717 Glen Lorne Township, where Zhuomu proposes to develop 21 standalone villas and 75 cluster housing units on about 9.2 hectares.