Chisumbanje villagers demand answers as ethanol plant remains shut

By Alex Bell 16 April 2013 Villagers in Chisumbanje are said to be losing patience and demanding answers from the authorities, who claimed that the contentious ethanol plant there would reopen last month. The plant has been closed since early last year amid worsening tensions between the community and the...

Unemployment fuelling rise in sand poaching

By Alex Bell 08 November 2012 As unemployment continues to affect an estimated 90% of the population, a growing number of Zimbabweans are turning to sand poaching as a means of bringing money into their homes. The most recent cases have involved villagers in Chisumbanje, where people employed by an ethanol...

Gold panning destroying Zimbabwe environment

By Tererai Karimakwenda 31 October, 2012 A cabinet minister, who has witnessed the deliberate burning of bush and trees by illegal gold panners, has warned of the severe damage being done to the environment and urged government to urgently introduce policies that create jobs and protect the...