A RECYCLING firm, Reborn Plastics, consisting of mainly partners of Indian descent last week tried to hoodwink First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa to the company’s factory launch in Houghton Park, Harare which had been built on undesignated land.
Built on a wetland on the edges of Mukuvisi River in Harare, the firm launched its operations on November 19 despite the Environmental Management Agency (Ema) having rejected the site plan at prospective level.
Residents interviewed said the firm attempted to use the office of the First Lady to railroad its illegal maneuvers.
“The irony of it all is that it’s a recycling firm, built on a wetland,” Isheanesu Chitiga, a Houghton Park resident, said.
“What is even more sinister is that the invite to the launch was accompanied by fliers which, for emphasis, were inscribed that the launch would be ‘inaugurated by Her Excellency, Amai Auxillia Mnangagwa.’ The First Lady snubbed the event.”
Reached for comment, Ema, a statutory body responsible for ensuring the sustainable management of natural resources and protection of the environment, said the recycling plant was illegal.
The company’s initial application was rejected before the firm re-applied with another name.
“The site plan was rejected at prospective level,” Amkela Sidange, Ema spokesperson, told Zim Morning Post.
“So, we did not get to EIA (Environment Impact Assessment) certificate level. What we need the public to understand is that environment protection comes with responsibility, and it is not only the responsibility of authorities, but the responsibility of every citizen to protect the integrity of the environment. After all, we only have one Zimbabwe,” she added.
Worryingly, Reborn Plastics launch on November 19 was graced and endorsed by Harare City Council (HCC), Zanu PF Members of Parliament as well as top officials from the ministry of Industry and Commerce.
The authorities read blushing speeches at the event, with HCC lauding the owners of the company for creating employment, reducing litter and dumpsites.
The gathered crowd was told of how the plant envisioned undertaking the reuse, reduction and recycling of plastics.
According to HCC, the plant also expected to manufacture PVC pipes.
Reached for comment last week, Reborn Plastics spokesperson Ajith Nair told Zim Morning Post thathe would send back written responses.
But six days later today, the firm had not yet responded prior to publication of this article.
Recently, the office of the First Lady has been targeted by some uncouth businesspersons seeking endorsements for their enterprises, despite upstarts not being lawfully registered.