Mujuru orders Chisumbanje Ethanol plant be open by Monday

ACTING President Joice Mujuru yesterday ordered that the Chisumbanje Ethanol plant be open for operations by Monday next week.

She said its closure had affected workers, farmers and villagers in the surrounding communities.

She said the people could not suffer due to political bickering between parties in the inclusive Government.

More than 4 500 workers had been laid off after the plant was closed in February last year.

Some irrigation-powered sugar cane out-grower schemes with a cumulative size of 13 000 hectares supported through the project were also affected.

Women from the community had petitioned VP Mujuru's office pleading for her intervention to save their community from suffering.

Addressing villagers and workers at the ethanol plant, Acting President Mujuru acknowleged the villagers' concerns.

"The people are troubled because their hopes of a better livelihood have been extinguished by the closure of the ethanol plant. There is no justification for closure, so this plant must be opened by next week on Monday. I will personally engage President Mugabe on his return and impress on him the promptness with which operations must resume.

VP Mujuru said the project had the full backing of the then Zanu-PF Government but faced challenges after the formation of the inclusive Government.

She said outstanding issues regarding the project would be ironed out while operations were in full throttle.

"When Billy approached us, we said thank you, but is what's happening the best way to treat an investor? No, No, No. Some of the demands being made are outrageous."

VP Mujuru said the people should benefit from the project while Government engaged the investors.

"By closing the project, we are deliberately inflicting suffering on the people whose benefit from this project is our responsibility. We are guilty of omission.

"We must separate developmental issues from politics. Consider the ethanol plant opened."

VP Mujuru challenged people in Manicaland to vote Zanu PF in the next elections.

She said a landslide victory for Zanu PF would rid the nation of the marriage of inconvenience between Zanu PF and MDC formations.

The Vice President said Zanu-PF had the aspirations of the people at heart as evidenced by its economic and land empowerment drives.

She said the MDC-T had nothing to offer the people.

She accused the MDC-T of pursuing policies that perpetuate the suffering of Zimbabweans.

Chief Garahwa had earlier pleaded with Vice President Mujuru to save the people who were benefiting from the project.

"Do not turn your back on us. Musazotikanganwa kana madzokera. Itai kuti basa rifambe, mhosho dzigadzirwe basa richifamba. My people have suffered.

"I hope you have not come here to raise our hopes and do nothing. Should that be the case you would have failed as a leader," he said.

Villagers have attacked Energy and Power Development Minister Elton Mangoma for working against the US$600 million project.

At full capacity the company would generate 18 megawatts into the national grid while it is expected to reduce Zimbabwe's fuel import bill.

Acting President Mujuru was accompanied by Zanu-PF national chairman Cde Simon Khaya Moyo and several Cabinet ministers during the visit to the Ethanol Plant.