In spite of the expectations that the woes of young people and the general community will be solved it has come to pass that youths in Chipinge remain disadvantaged and excluded from the company’s catchment area. The desperate youths said they remain stuck in the corridors of poverty when they are supposed to be primary beneficiaries of the Ethanol project in terms of employment opportunities. Questions are being asked, as to whose interest the company is serving.
The youths have threatened massive demonstrations at the company offices to demand fulfilment of employment promises by the company. They complain that the company is employing people from other districts ahead of Chipinge. Nepotism and favouritism has reared its ugly head at the company as top managers are recruiting their relatives and friends into influential positions relegating a few locals to menial jobs.
Reports are rife that the few locals who have been employed in menial jobs are subjected to unfair labour practices. There is no job security as locals are hired and fired at the will of managers. PYD is reliably informed that in the month of August 2011 alone, 30 people were fired without compensation. This proceeded to the month of September where quite a number were also relieved of their duties without hearing. The matter is now before our lawyers and the National Employment Council. When asked for a comment PYD Director, Claris Madhuku said his organization had recorded very heart rending and emotional reports of colonialist and unfair labour practices the company was using against its workers.
A case in point is a one eyed security guard at the company who was fired by a senior white Manager only referred to as Doink. Doink is alleged to have said “ngaiende kumba kwayo aizooni nzimbe dzangu” (go home, you won’t be able to see my sugar cane).
Another villager Innocent Chikamhi was electrocuted while on duty and has not received professional medical attention and compensation despite the fact that he has suffered up to 70% disability. Such reports of injuries at work not getting adequate attention from the management are high at the company.
Young people in the whole district are unanimous that action has to be taken against the Investor. They are bitter and convinced the problem has to be resolved without delay as this will set a bad precedent in the country. This unanimous need for action came in a spat of meetings organised by PYD to commemorate the International Youth Day. Meetings in Chibuwe, Rimbi, Muumbe, Zamuchiya and Chikore reinforced the same issue that locals should be the direct and first beneficiary of any community project in the district.
PYD continues to represent Chipinge communities in development issues. Last week they highlighted the still pending horrible situation of livestock dying after drinking contaminated water from the Ethanol plant. The company constructed dams close to the community in Munepasi. The dams have become the latest threat to human life as they are constantly breaking and flooding the community drowning livestock and washing away huts and other properties.
