ZANU PF Chipinge South MP Enock Porusingazi last Thursday said he would oppose the imposition of a community share ownership scheme at Chisumbanje Ethanol Project arguing that the investor, Billy Rautenbach, had already introduced several projects to benefit the community.
EVERSON MUSHAVA
Speaking to journalists during a tour of the multi-million-dollar ethanol plant by Energy minister Dzikamai Mavhaire, Porusingazi said: “The investor has done a lot to help the community that a share ownership scheme may not be necessary.”
He added “I cannot support share ownership where community projects will be signed for by someone I do not know when the investor is doing a lot in supporting the community through various projects.”
This follows calls by pressure groups for the introduction of a community share ownership scheme at Chisumbanje plant. Porusingazi said apart from offering employment to hordes of locals, the Green Fuels venture has assisted in roads maintenance, production of electricity to reduce load shedding in the district and agricultural support, among other projects.
“The investor is in the process of sinking boreholes for communities to solve the perennial water shortage in the area. He has also proposed to fund some irrigation projects to improve the food security in the area,” he said. Since last year, Zanu PF has through its indigenisation policy forced several multi-national companies to establish community share ownership schemes in their areas of operation to fund various community projects.
President Robert Mugabe has already commissioned several community share ownership projects in various mining communities that include Marange for the diamond community in Manicaland, Unki in Zvishavane and Ngezi in Mashonaland West, among others.
