Government has ordered Harare City Council to accept a biogas project to be implemented by the Ministry of Energy and Power Development using garbage generated from suburbs and largely at Mbare Musika.

The garbage for the biogas project would generate electricity for the immediate environs of Mbare Musika and possibly wean the area from the Zesa grid.

But council is resisting the project citing dangers related to possible explosions of the gas plant.

Local Government, Rural and Urban Development Minister Ignatius Chombo said last week that such fears were unfounded.

"I hereby direct that the council cooperate with the Ministry of Energy and Power Development so that the biogas project at Mbare Musika is up and running by the end of April," he said.

Minister Chombo said the city was not expected to fund any part of the project.

"As this project is a Government initiative and as the City of Harare will be the ultimate beneficiary, the delay in implementation is incomprehensible," he said.

"The biogas project is safe and will be handed over to the City of Harare without any cost to the rate-payer."

Minister Chombo said the power generated would be to power ancillary services such as tower lighting, parking areas and house lighting.

He said the project would help reduce the mounting of garbage in the area.

Minister Chombo said the project will reduce time wasted transporting garbage from Mbare to Pomona refuse dumps.

More such bio-gas projects are earmarked for Harare Central Hospital and Chikurubi Prison.