Business Reporter
THERE is need to facilitate a speedy resolution to the problems bedeviling the giant ethanol plant in Chisumbanje and ensure an urgent reopening of the plant, a Cabinet Minister has said.

Speaking during the second ministerial committee tour of the project on Sunday, Presidential Affairs Minister, Cde Didymus Mutasa, said the project was set to benefit the people of Chisumbanje as well as the entire nation, therefore the Government cannot afford to watch as acts of deliberate sabotage threaten to derail the $600 million project.
Cde Mutasa said mandatory blending had to be taken seriously.
He said the project benefited people in Chisumbanje and they should not allow outsiders to contribute to its collapse.
"There is no doubt that we all need to work towards the good of this projects as it benefits not only the people of Chisumbanje, but the entire nation.
“During the liberation struggle (Ian) Smith was put under (UN) sanctions. He only survived through mandatory blending of fuel.
"In the early days of independence we also used to have mandatory blending. Yes, it is an issue that we have to look into as the Government. Let us not kill our project because of emotions. This project has brought development in this area with people building houses and business is booming," he said.

Speaking to journalists soon after the tour, the Deputy Prime Minister, Professor Arthur Mutambara said he would table his findings to Cabinet in two weeks time.
"We came here on a fact finding mission and we are now going back to Harare to map the way forward. There are issues that need to be addressed that include the issue of pricing and resettlement among others. We have come to listen to all constituencies and we are now going to sit and come up with answers," he said.

The Government set up a Cabinet committee chaired by Prof Mutambara to look into the challenges facing the project and the first group of five ministers visited the plant last Wednesday while the second group of ministers toured the project on Sunday.
The Cabinet committee was on a fact-finding mission to establish the reasons the plant was closed in February this year.