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Freeman Razemba Senior Reporter
Two Swedish businessmen, who are in the country to assess investment opportunities, are interested in constructing a sanitation system that converts waste into fertiliser and biogas in Epworth. Mr Ulf Georgson of Wolfie Tough Holding AB and Mr Ake Hultqvist, who is the editor-in-chief and publisher of a tobacco magazine Tobak and Mer, recently said they were on a mission to start businesses in the country.

On Wednesday, the two — who were accompanied by Ms Stephanie Shiri, a director of Shiloah Trust, a local partner of the Swedish investors — toured Epworth before they held meetings with Government officials and those from the Epworth Local Board. Mr Georgson said they see the investment as an environmentally friendly solution to sewage disposal problems facing the area.

He pledged to encourage people from his homeland to invest in Zimbabwe. “An appraisal of the area shows that there is scope for establishing a sustainable waste disposal facility for converting waste to biogas and fertiliser on a large-scale,” he said.

Ms Shiri said the project has the ability to empower young people. “From our assessments and our preliminary discussions that we had and the tour that we had, it’s very important that the Epworth Local Board and Honourable (Cde Zalerah) Makari (MP for Epworth) that they consider this project and help empower the people by alleviating the problems that are currently there in Epworth,” she said.

It was important, she said, to restore the dignity of the people of Epworth. Epworth Local Board secretary Mr Wilton Mhanda said council would soon deliberate on the matter. The two Swedish investors are also exploring opportunities in industrial plastic manufacturing and the textiles sector.