Chisumbanje ethanol plant in waste matter row

Green Fuel's ethanol plant in Chisumbanje, Zimbabwe, is reportedly discharging harmful waste matter.

Zimbabwe's parliament has heard how the waste matter has reportedly caused some people to become partially blind, while others are developing feet sores.

Appearing before a parliamentary committee on Youth, Indigenisation and Empowerment, Mutsa Chasi, head of Environmental Management Agency (Ema) said the Billy Rautenbach-owned company was ignoring environmental laws.

'Green Fuel is aware of what needs to be done yet it has remained adamant in not complying. From what we have seen of its attitude, it seems it has become a matter of 'it is better to pollute than to comply',' says Chasi.

The MPs took Chasi and her team to task as to why they were not enforcing the law by ensuring the closure of the fuel company, to which she said Ema was limited on how to punish "such wayward" companies that disregard the law.

In an order from MPs, Ema is expected to fine Green Fuel $5000 a day until it complies laws and has an Environment Impact Assessment (EIA).