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Minister Bhasikiti

George Maponga in MASVINGO
Masvingo’S political leadership has written to Government seeking the nod to acquire 10 000 hectares of land from sugar producer Tongaat Hulett for resettlement purposes.
Tongaat Hulett owns cane plantations that straddle nearly 30 000ha at Triangle and Hippo Valley Estates in the Low veld. The firm also runs two sugar cane mills at the two estates.

There has been growing disquiet across the province over the firm’s alleged reluctance to comply with the country’s indigenisation laws either through cessation of shares to locals or development of virgin land into cane plantations for landless people.

Masvingo Provincial Affairs Minister Kudakwashe Bhasikiti yesterday said the Lands and Rural Resettlement Ministry was yet to respond to their request.

“Of course, such a move would also require the go-ahead from President Mugabe, so we are still waiting for the response because it is our hope that if we get that land most our people without land will be able to benefit,” said Minister Bhasikiti.

Besides, Hippo Valley and Triangle sugar estates, Tongaat Hulett also runs Mkwasine sugar cane estates in Mwenezi and cane produced there is taken for milling in Triangle.

Communities say Tongaat Hulett should concentrate on running its two mills while cane-growing is done by indigenous farmers.
Just over 1 000 indigenous farmers have been allocated sugar cane plots in the Lowveld since the inception of the Fast-Track Land Reform Programme.