The Battle for Koala: Why a Regional Odor Dispute Has Escalated Into an Existential Threat for One of Harare’s Largest Private Employers
Report By: Arron Nyamayaro • Published: April 22, 2026
It is a classic clash between environmental comfort and economic survival.
On one side, prominent Southern African twins claim a crippling stench is choking Seke Road commuters. On the other side, an agricultural behemoth that employs over 1,000 people says its operations are lawful, fully permitted, and vital to the national economy.
The Katonha twins have dragged Koala Park Abattoir and the Environmental Management Agency (EMA) to the Harare Civil Court, demanding a halt to the keeping of cattle near Seke Road. But the abattoir has fired back with a massive legal shield of statutory permits and jurisdictional challenges.
ENVIRONMENTAL RIGHTS ECONOMIC OPERATIONS LEGAL JURISDICTION
Case Breakdown: Katonha vs. Koala Park
The applicants, Tendai Mayor and Farai Lawyer Katonha—prominent leaders of twins' associations in Southern Africa—have taken a stand for residents and commuters. They argue that the abattoir is severely polluting the environment.
The Seke Road Commute
Seke Road is the primary artery connecting the dormitory town of Chitungwiza to the capital, Harare. The twins argue that daily commuters and surrounding residents are forced to endure a heavy, nauseating stench emanating from the abattoir's feedlots.
The Zoning Argument
The Katonhas contend that Koala Park only holds a license to operate as an abattoir and butchery. They allege the company has overstepped its mandate by keeping hundreds of live cattle on the premises, creating the massive odor issue.
The Desired Relief
The twins are asking the Harare Civil Court for a direct interdict: to legally bar Koala Park from keeping cattle near Seke Road to prevent what they describe as "serious health consequences" from air pollution.
Represented by Hebert Muromba from Kanter and Immerman Legal Practitioners, Koala Park Abattoir vehemently rejected the allegations, presenting themselves not as rogue polluters, but as a pillar of the national economy.
A Decades-Long Legacy
Koala Park has operated from its current Seke Road premises since the early 2000s—a period exceeding 25 years. The company argues that they are a long-standing, established fixture in the area, not a sudden disruption.
Economic Backbone
The respondent highlighted that it is one of the largest cattle ranching, butchery, and abattoir businesses in Zimbabwe. The company employs over 1,000 people and its operations sustain several critical sectors of the Government.
The Feedlot Purpose
Countering the "abattoir only" claim, Muromba stated that the main reason for acquiring the property was specifically to construct a stock feed production unit, a storage unit, and a feedlot for its cattle.
To operate a feedlot and abattoir of this magnitude, Koala Park detailed the extensive bureaucratic and environmental hoops they successfully jumped through.
EMA Certification
Prior to construction, the company obtained an Environmental and Social Impact Assessment certificate in accordance with the Environmental Management Act [Chapter 20:27], authorizing the feedlot project. (Notably, EMA officials did not appear at the hearing).
Urban Councils Act Permit
They hold a valid permit under the Urban Councils Act [Chapter 29:15] dictating by-laws for the discharge of sewage, water management, and strict quality standards and controls.
Town Planning Approval
Refuting the zoning violation claim, the company produced a permit under the Regional, Town and Country Planning Act [Chapter 29:12], specifically Section 26, which lawfully authorized their "change of use" for the premises.
Beyond proving compliance, Koala Park's legal team launched a technical counter-offensive against the Katonha twins' application, arguing the Civil Court cannot grant the requested relief.
Lack of Jurisdiction
Muromba argued that by asking the court to bar cattle on the premises, the applicants are essentially asking the court to suspend or cancel operating licenses issued by statutory bodies. "This Honourable Court does not have the power nor jurisdiction to suspend or cancel licences," he noted, directing them to challenge the City of Harare directly.
No Illegality Alleged
The remedy of an interdict requires proof of an illegal act. Muromba pointed out a fatal flaw in the twins' case: they never actually alleged that Koala's operations were illegal. "A court cannot interdict a lawful process," he stated, claiming everything is above board.
The Right to Use Seke Road
Addressing the twins' claim to a "right to use Seke Road," Koala argued: "First Respondent’s operations do not interfere with the use of the road. Applicant is free to continue using the road... any purported right to use the road should not extend to infringe on the unencumbered property rights of the lawful land owners."
With Koala Park asking for the application to be dismissed with costs due to a lack of jurisdiction and established rights, the ball is now back in the applicants' court.
Arguments Deadline
The presiding magistrate has ordered the Katonha twins to formalize and submit their final arguments to the court by April 28, 2026.
Judgment Date
The court will deliberate on the jurisdictional challenges and the merits of the environmental claims, with a final judgment scheduled to be handed down on May 6, 2026.
The Final Word
"No right can arise from a lawful process that is now complete. The right to use public roads does not extend to adjoining unencumbered property rights." — Hebert Muromba, Legal Counsel for Koala Park.
As Chitungwiza residents and commuters await the May 6 ruling, the case highlights a growing tension in Zimbabwe’s urban expansion: balancing the environmental rights of citizens against the operational needs of heavy industries that provide critical jobs and food security.
