CHIPINGE South — Scores of families evicted from Chisumbanje area to pave way for the controversial ethanol project are facing serious food shortages.
BY CLAYTON MASEKESA Some of the villagers are having only one meal per day and rely heavily on the government’s grain loan scheme, which has proved to be adequate.
Supporters of the two MDC formations have complained that they were being excluded from the scheme, which they said was mostly benefiting Zanu PF members. Zanu PF has on several occasions denied politicising food aid programmes.
Chipinge South MP, Meki Makuyana (MDC-T) told The Standard last week that the food crisis was worsening on a daily basis.
“We have serious food shortages in this part of the country. Areas such as Chisumbanje, Chinyamukwakwa and Machona could be the worst-hit,” said Makuyana. “People there were evicted to pave way for the ethanol plant and they were compensated with 0,5 hectare of land per family. The land they were given is not enough to sustain their families.”
He added: “Some areas are not yet under sugar plantation but the villagers were told to stop using that land. In previous years, villagers would supplement their food by purchasing maize in other areas using money from cotton production. Now that the land was taken, villagers are now in a dire situation.”
Arda board chairman, Basil Nyabadza said they were providing maize to needy villagers and more was set to come.
“We have done food distribution in Chisumbanje and more maize will be coming in,” he said.
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The US$600 million ethanol project is a joint venture between Arda and private investors, Macdom and Rating.
After 20 years the Chisumbanje and Arda Estates would be handed back to Arda.
