By Martin Muleya.
Mutare, Zimbabwe. (News of The South) – Politicians in the ruling party Zanu PF and opposition parties have been warned to distance themselves from interfering with the operations at Green Fuel.
Addressing members of the Joint Operation Command and other government department at Green Fuel plant, the Minister of State for Manicaland provincial affairs Mandi Chimene who was in a no nonsense mood, gave a stern warning to members of the ruling party who were causing chaos and continuously extending their begging bowls to the company management purporting to be acting on behalf of the party, saying their days were numbered before the net close on them.
She indicated that villagers especially in Chinyamukwakwa area who were taking the law unto themselves by confiscating and vandalising machinery of the plant risk being facing the full wrath of the law despite their political position in the party.
“I hear that villagers in Chinyamukwakwa area are wreaking havoc and do not even respect their traditional leadership. Tractors have been vandalised and staff at Green Fuel being attacked. As if that is not enough, the people championing this cause I hear there are, politicians from even Zanu PF who are fronting you (villagers) as their springboard for political mileage.
“They continuously make unrealistic demands both in cash and in kind purporting to have been sent on behalf of the party. This must come to an end. Stop begging using the name Zanu PF; we have systems that we follow as a party.
“We have our own calendar of events for each year that we follow and coming to this coming company day in day out for this or another activity seeking donations is really not fair,” fumed Chimene.
Chimene who was on a familiarisation tour with service chiefs was appraised of the challenges facing the ethanol plant.
The Minister of State lashed out at the former Minister of Energy in the Inclusive government of 2013, Elton Mangoma for usurping his power as a cabinet minister by blocking the commencement of operations at Green Fuel.
She reiterated that those who were still thinking that Mangoma can be their ‘saviour’ were dreaming as government would not watch Green Fuel fold its business because of cheap politics. She highlighted that Zanu PF has always followed the nature of Zimbabwean politics, which is defined by the grassroots, no wonder the party garnered two thirds majority in Parliament.
“It is a pity that Elton Mangoma has also joined the cabals of individuals derailing progress at Green Fuel. We never trusted these people when we had them in the inclusive government. But am happy to say the people of Zimbabwe realised that Zanu PF was the people’s party and we managed to win resoundingly in the 2013 elections.
“Mangoma I hear is trying to mislead you people by following his Reformed Democrats of Zimbabwe (RDZ) party and held a rally at Chinyamukwakwa with his few disciples. We won’t lose sleep with those farmers who are refusing to take the 0, 5 hectares meant for irrigation preferring to be given plots that they cannot manage.
“Government will not stop implementing its programmes because a few urchins-who really know nothing-decide to play truancy. Disturbances whether they are internal or external they cost production. So vasingadi kutora ma 0,5hectares meant for irrigation ngavabve zvavo,” she retorted.
Speaking at the same occasion Green Fuel owner Billy Rauntenbach said his company was supplying 15 per cent of the country’s fuel. He pleaded with Chimene to avail security to the company that can deal decisively with the Chinyamukwakwa villagers and hinted that in the ethanol project he was praying for government to support him on his initiatives.
He also blasted Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority for the power shortages and categorically state that such a
“Zimbabwe is plunged in darkness and yet we grow sugarcane on our 6 000 hectares to also augment the supply of electricity to Zesa. Please don’t shed us because that is badly affecting our operations. We cannot pump water to irrigate the fields if there is no electricity and the sugarcane is wilting. When everything stops, we can’t produce electricity.
“The company right now is operating at 50 per cent capacity. We want to open another plant in Middle Sabi and we need government support. I am an investor and also need government support. I don’t want electricity but I want to give Zesa electricity but how can I do that when they are disconnecting me from the grid because of load shedding, queried Rauntenbach.
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