Zimbabwean News You Can Trust
Both men and women sit outside a newly commissioned fertilizer plant on the outskirts of Norton, despair and hunger written all over their sun burnt faces as they eagerly wait and hope for a job opportunity to ease the economic burden.
Employment is hard to come by in Zimbabwe, and Norton residents aren’t fairing any better compared to the rest of the country, with the unemployment rate standing at over 90%. Each day is another adventure outside Fertop Fertilizer blending plant, as the desperate job seekers leave their homes to try their luck once more, spending the entire day sitting in the scotching African sun, with the hope of being the fortunate one to get the much needed job.
However, its just a painful waiting game daily as there is no work from the Chinese owned firm, leaving the disgruntled job seekers to stew in the soup of hope. For hope is all they have as the company keeps the job seekers guessing as to when it will start recruiting.
“We came outside these premises hoping we would be recruited, but we don’t have anyone who can help us. It’s now two weeks since we started coming. The person who communicates is a security guard, and his message to us is to to just wait,” grumbled a Norton Resident who declined to be named.
Another dejected resident, visibly upset, alleged unfairness in the recruitment process. She said Fertop had employed two women, and claimed she would lobby for affirmative action so that local residents would benefit.
“We have two other women recruits, but we are unable to speak to them. What we think as Norton Residents is we should be the first preference for this Chinese company, because this development is within our community,” she said.
She added they had planned to share their setbacks with the guest of honor, who commissioned the Fertiliser plant, but the company’s security guards blocked them.
Asked for comment about the issue a few days after the commissioning of the Fertilizer plant, Fertop manager Mr. Gordon said “indeed, I believe we have addressed the issues with them. Surely we’ll keep following up.”
Chinese companies have been investing heavily across Zimbabwe’s various economic sectors over the past five years, and they now have a huge presence in mining, construction, energy and agriculture.
Meanwhile, Provincial Affairs and Devolution Mashonaland West Minister Marian Chombo, who was the guest of the owner, applauded what Fertop had done to the country’s agricultural sector, insisting the fertilizer blending plant would boost the economy and help the country attain food self sufficiency.
“The commissioning of a Fertilizer plat setup by Fertop is a good move, because Mashonaland West is the breadbasket of Zimbabwe. You can also see what the President was preaching about, the re-engagement effort. These are the results. The mantra is bearing fruits.”
Fertop fertilizer blending plant has capacity to producing 300 tonnes per day, and the project is a result of a US$1 million Chinese investment in Fertop Agriculture (Private) Limited.
The company will also produce the MoreHarvest Compound brand, using the granulation, one of the processes used in Zimbabwe, with Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium included on the package.