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Chisumbanje ethanol plant shareholder Mr Billy Rautenbach (centre) explains the plant’s operations to Information, Media and Brodcasting Services Minister Professor Jonathan Moyo (left) and Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development Minister Dr Joseph Made (right) yesterday. — Picture by Justin Mutenda

Farirai Machivenyika Senior Reporter
Information, Media and Broadcasting Services Minister Professor Jonathan Moyo yesterday commended the work being done by Green Fuel at its ethanol plant in Chisumbanje, saying the project was contributing significantly to the country’s development.Green Fuel is a joint venture project between Macdom Investments and the Agriculture and Rural Development Authority.

Prof Moyo made the remarks after touring the ethanol plant and sugarcane plantations together with Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development Minister Dr Joseph Made.

“My impression is we have witnessed a very good Zimbabwean story that speaks to critical elements of our economic development and we see that there are Zimbabweans who are involved in this effort,” Prof Moyo said.

He said the project showed that it was possible for parastatals to enter into partnerships that benefit the nation.

“You can see that it is possible for a Government agency to come up with a smart partnership which in the long run, if given an opportunity to grow, will make a big difference in realising the objectives of Zim-Asset, not just from the point of view of food security and nutrition, but this is key infrastructure that benefits our community,” he said.

Prof Moyo said what he had witnessed at Green Fuel was contrary to the negative stories he heard about the project.

“I think that anyone approaching this issue from an objective point of view will say there is nothing that beats reality and having an opportunity for that reality speaks for itself,” he said.

“We have heard lots of things about this estate, but if we are to be fair to ourselves we will have to say most of what we have heard does not square up with what we saw and experienced.

“What we saw and experienced tells a very compelling story about a clear and genuine effort to contribute, in the first instance, to the well-being of the community here.  “When you have a project that is employing some 4 500 people against the background of the stories we hear of people who are struggling to sustain their livelihoods you have to say that it’s a very good project.

“It contributes to a very critical area of our energy sector, a major enabler which is a key piece of Zim-Asset in terms of infrastructure and utility and it’s not only fuel we are talking about, but it’s also power that is coming out.”

At least US$400 million has been invested in the project since its inception and since August last year has contributed 10 percent of the country’s fuel needs.

Arda board chairman Mr Basil Nyabadza, who was part of the entourage, said the partnership with Green Fuel was done above board and denied claims made by Hurungwe West legislator Cde Temba Mliswa that he was bribed by Macdom Investment owner Mr Billy Rautenbach to facilitate the deal.

“The birth of this project came through a Cabinet committee which recommended the way to go,” he said.

“Mr Mliswa wanted value from a project through unorthodox means and we said we will never be part and parcel of that. Mr Mliswa is an honourable MP and if he felt that a crime was committed he had all the access to the police, he should have reported.”

Green Fuel has made it possible for the blending of fuel by providing ethanol and the Government recently made the blending mandatory at E10, a move that saw prices of petrol going down.