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Panic in Chisumbanje as poisonous disposal from ethanol plant kills livestock
Platform for Youth Development
September 02, 2011

Great fear and panic has gripped villagers as emissions from the ethanol production plant are killing livestock and destroying the environment in Chisumbanje.

Villagers are complaining that since last week, more than 20 cattle, donkeys and goats have been reported dead after drinking contaminated water from Jerawachera River. The magnitude of the affected animals is believed to be higher as some villagers are still to make formal reports.

Jerry Moyana a villager in Chinyamikwakwa said that the situation is getting out of hand and community members are worried. "As Africans our wealth is measured by the number of livestock one possesses and we risk being stripped of our community worthy," he said.

The company is channeling the poisonous wastes from the plant into Jerawachera which is the villagers' main water source. "We are now living in fear of death as we rely on Jerawachera water for household purposes," noted Nixon Hodhera.

Another village strongman, Mafukame Muyambo added, "Jerawachera has been contaminated. Fish, frogs, birds and our animals are dying; we are worried our livestock will all die since we have no alternative source to water." Muyambo's sentiments are shared by the rest of the community members who see a tragedy of their life.

The situation is getting out of hand as angry villagers are confronting the company management to address the community concerns. Relations between the company management and local villagers have turned vicious as violent clash reports have of late been received at Chisumbanje police station.

PYD Director Claris Madhuku, commenting on this recent development said his organisation has been making frantic efforts to establish if the company underwent the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process. "The environmental impact assessment was supposed to take note of such dangers before they occur and we are in doubt if it was carried out or whether it was carried out professionally," said Madhuku.

"It remains everyone's worry why a company pursuing such big project fail to consider the life of the surrounding communities and why the government of Zimbabwe remain silent when such a threat to human life is happening," Madhuku queried.

Madhuku appealed to the Minister of Environment and Natural Resources Management, Hon Francis Nhema and Environmental Management Agency (EMA) to visit the area and see for themselves.

Jerawachera River serves the greater part of Chisumbanje as the main source of water and is a tributary of Save River which feeds into Limpopo and finally into Indian Ocean.

Meanwhile the villagers remain unmoved as they have taken Macdom Investments to court over lack of consultation and violation of the community's right to land.

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