Zimbabwe: Council to Probe Joint Venture Projects

It has also come to light that a joint venture between council and the National
Oil Company of Zimbabwe to establish a jatropha plantation at Cleveland Dam is
non-existent despite glowing reports by town clerk Dr Tendai Mahachi that 20
hectares of jatropha had been planted during the 2007/08 season.

He had reported in an earlier meeting that 150ha were to be planted in the
2008/09 farming season.

But at last Friday's council meeting, councillors made it clear they did not
want to be part of failure.

Clr Pumulani Musagwiza ignited the debate when he declared that the joint
ventures were not benefiting council.

"The joint ventures are not bearing fruit," he said with particular reference to
the jatropha project.

A visit by councillors to Cleveland Dam established that there was no jatropha
plantation except for a few plants that council authorities are now describing
as part of measures to conserve the environment.

The councillors called for the scrapping of the joint venture.

Clr Panganayi Charumbira said some of the joint ventures could not be justified
and should be discontinued.

"I do not want to be part of failure. Some of the decisions on joint ventures do
not make sense," he said.

Mayor Mr Muchadeyi Masunda joined the debate, saying any joint ventures that did
not benefit the council would be dropped.

"We need a critical approach of where we are and whether to continue or drop
them," he said.

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