News / National
Chisumbanje villagers lose cattle to ethanol plant poisoning
22 Oct 2015 at 07:30hrs | Views
Villagers are once more rueing the day the ethanol producing plant in Chisumbanje in the eastern province of Manicaland opened after losing livestock to contaminated water this week.
Zimbabwe Human Rights Association (ZimRights) through a statement said a source said that four cattle died in the past two days after drinking the water contaminated by effluent from the ethanol plant, while human life was equally threatened as the water found its way into irrigation canals.
"Due to human error at the plant, the contaminated water has been mixed with irrigation water at the canal that feeds the 0, 5 ha irrigation plots in Muyondozi village. This can endanger human life since the community has been using this water for irrigation," the source is quoted as saying by ZimRights.
ZimRights said villagers in Muyondozi village reportedly used the contaminated water for irrigation on Monday, October 19, 2015.
The organisation said Green Fuel, which owns the plant is a joint venture between a private company Macdom Investment and government through Agricultural & Rural Development Authority (ARDA).
"The Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Youth Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment in a February 2015 report, ordered Green Fuel to comply with the requirements of environmental impact assessment by December 2015, after confirming the plant released toxic effluent into water sources that led to the death of livestock and aquatic life," stated ZimRights.
"OUR POSITION: ZimRights Chairperson, Passmore Nyakureba said: "It is unfortunate that more complaints and violations of the Chisumbanje villagers' socioeconomic rights continue to emerge. The government must conclusively address the challenges that have been visited upon the Chisumbanje community as a result of the ethanol producing project. We don't expect that where development processes are happening the local communities and their livelihoods should be allowed to be collateral damage."
ZimRights said an owner of one of the cattle, David Muzimbaranda, recently recovered the carcass of his beast, while another, Wallen Khumbuyana had to use a scotchcart to carry one of his cattle home after drinking the poisonous water.
"John Ugayo confirmed that he had lost his cattle, and other villagers have been losing cattle over the past days," said ZimRights.
"The water from the mill is also getting into Matombo dam. There is no security fence and livestock just drink the water, but we have always asked for this issue to be resolved," Ugayo is quoted as having said.
"We have been slaughtering the cattle for meat, but we are not eating the innards as they will have already been destroyed."
ZimRights said the consumption of the meat by the villagers could pose another health hazard.
the organisation said sources indicated that the water is smelly, but added there could be need for samples to convince other stakeholders, or for the Green Fuel company to carry out an environmental impact assessment.
"The Chisumbanje villagers have previously complained about loss of 4,263 ha of land to the ethanol project which was confirmed by the Parliamentary Committee in February 2015, confiscation of stray livestock, and pollution of water sources," said ZimRights.
Zimbabwe Human Rights Association (ZimRights) through a statement said a source said that four cattle died in the past two days after drinking the water contaminated by effluent from the ethanol plant, while human life was equally threatened as the water found its way into irrigation canals.
"Due to human error at the plant, the contaminated water has been mixed with irrigation water at the canal that feeds the 0, 5 ha irrigation plots in Muyondozi village. This can endanger human life since the community has been using this water for irrigation," the source is quoted as saying by ZimRights.
ZimRights said villagers in Muyondozi village reportedly used the contaminated water for irrigation on Monday, October 19, 2015.
The organisation said Green Fuel, which owns the plant is a joint venture between a private company Macdom Investment and government through Agricultural & Rural Development Authority (ARDA).
"The Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Youth Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment in a February 2015 report, ordered Green Fuel to comply with the requirements of environmental impact assessment by December 2015, after confirming the plant released toxic effluent into water sources that led to the death of livestock and aquatic life," stated ZimRights.
ZimRights said an owner of one of the cattle, David Muzimbaranda, recently recovered the carcass of his beast, while another, Wallen Khumbuyana had to use a scotchcart to carry one of his cattle home after drinking the poisonous water.
"John Ugayo confirmed that he had lost his cattle, and other villagers have been losing cattle over the past days," said ZimRights.
"The water from the mill is also getting into Matombo dam. There is no security fence and livestock just drink the water, but we have always asked for this issue to be resolved," Ugayo is quoted as having said.
"We have been slaughtering the cattle for meat, but we are not eating the innards as they will have already been destroyed."
ZimRights said the consumption of the meat by the villagers could pose another health hazard.
the organisation said sources indicated that the water is smelly, but added there could be need for samples to convince other stakeholders, or for the Green Fuel company to carry out an environmental impact assessment.
"The Chisumbanje villagers have previously complained about loss of 4,263 ha of land to the ethanol project which was confirmed by the Parliamentary Committee in February 2015, confiscation of stray livestock, and pollution of water sources," said ZimRights.
Source - Chisumbanje
