Lea Mutanda
Prisoners in Zimbabwe have started the legal growth of the first plants of cannabis, marking the start of the country’s journey in producing the plant for research, medicinal, industrial and other purposes.
The growth of the first batch of industrial hemp, under Statutory Instrument 208, was spearheaded by the Zimbabwe Industrial Hemp Trust (ZIHT).
Hemp is used to make industrial and commercial products that include rope, textiles, clothing, shoes, food, paper, bio-plastics, insulation and biofuel
Speaking at the official planting ceremony at Harare Central Prison, Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Water, Climate and Rural Resettlement, Perrance Shiri, said the project would also serve as a case study.
“Zimbabwe currently does not have a home grown data on the production of the industrial hemp. Hence, this satellite project will provide the essential knowledge required for its successful production,” he said.
ZIHT founder and chief executive officer, Mr Zorodzai Maroveke, paid tribute to the inmates at Harare Central Prison.