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The plant closed in February, leaving scores of workers jobless.
The project was expected to employ over 10 000 workers and cut Zimbabwe’s fuel import bill by $2,4 million per year.
Villagers yesterday accused MDC-T leaders in the province of working against the project that had brought empowerment to the grassroots.
They appealed to the Government to intervene to resuscitate the project. The project, villagers said, benefitted the community and its closure would frustrate development.
Workers at the plant are being paid 55 percent of their salaries.
“The project was a welcome development for the community because we had started witnessing growth in the area. Look at the buildings that had started sprouting in the area . . . the banks and even the companies that had started setting up shop in the area,” Michael Simoyi said.
The villagers accused politicians of trying to run down the projects.
“There are certain politicians coming here to denigrate the project telling villagers to demand back their plots. Most of the villagers are in subsistence farming and we are happy that because of the project we would be able to access some of the irrigation facilities under the outgrowers scheme.”
Former Chipinge legislator Cde Enock Porusingazi said the community was dismayed by the resistance shown to the project.
“Many of our youths had found employment at the project. The plant was employing youths from the villages and we are dismayed that there are people working against the project. We are calling on Government to introduce mandatory blending so that we start benefiting from such an investment.”
Mrs Handina Mundeta had no kind words for the political leadership in the area.
“There are people working hard against the project but most of us were not employed. We were getting enough money to send our children to school through the project but since its closure most of us are struggling to make ends meet.
“There are politicians telling people to demand their land back but as you know this is a dry area and people who have embraced the project are benefiting from the irrigation programmes led by Greenfuel.
“There are villagers who are growing maize at the moment using the irrigation facilities from the project.”
Villagers also accused politicians for trying to interfere in the project.
“There are some politicians who were advising us against taking up the plots we were allocated. There are people who took up the plots and they are doing better than we are now. This area is dry and the rains are poor. Benefiting from the irrigation programme is better off for most us but we just hope Government ensures that the project is resuscitated so that villagers benefit,” Mrs Agnes Mlambo said.
The Chisumbanje Ethanol Plant suspended production in February this year after exhausting storage facilities on site and in Harare. The closure has also seen over 800 workers being laid off while over 4 000 others have been placed on reduced salary.
Online Reporter