Tongaat Hullet to resume development of 600ha

Tawanda Mangoma in Chiredzi
Tongaat Hullet Zimbabwe is reportedly set to resume development of 6 000 hectares of new sugarcane plantations here under the Kilimanjalo Project. The project was abandoned in August 2014 under unclear circumstances. Lands and Rural Resettlement Minister Douglas Mombeshora reportedly reached an agreement with the sugar manufacturing company after touring its 29 000ha sugarcane plantations in Mwenezi and Chiredzi districts recently.

Minister Mombershora confirmed visiting Chiredzi and holding meetings with Tongaat Hullets Zimbabwe officials, but would not be drawn into discussing details of his three day visit.

“Yes, I am in Chiredzi but this trip has nothing to do with the 4 000ha whose case is still before the courts,” he said during his visit last week. “My coming is mainly to meet Tongaat Hullets, we have issues to discuss and that is all I can say for now.”

Chiredzi West legislator Cde Darlington Chiwa confirmed Minister Mombeshora’s visit, saying it was mainly administrative and had nothing to do with the issues of contested land. “The minister told me that he was on an administrative trip,” he said. “They had important issues which they wanted to iron out with Tongaat. We are yet to get the outcome of his visits.”

Sources said Minister Mombeshora’s visit was mainly to familiarise with the operations of the sugarcane milling giant. They said the company registered its willingness to have more land developed for sugarcane production, which would then be issued to new farmers on a cost recovery bases.

“Tongaat is one of the companies protected under a Bilateral Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement signed between South Africa and Zimbabwe in 2009,” said a Government official close to the meeting.

“The Minister had to respond after President Mugabe spoke strongly against the grabbing of the company’s sugar-cane estates during the Youth Interface rally which was held in Masvingo.

Tongaat Hullet managing director, Mr Sydney Mtsambiwa, early this year said his company was prepared to partner Government in developing 10 000ha of land which would be irrigated by water from Tokwe Mukosi Dam. The company registered its willingness to complete the Kilimanjalo Project, which was abandoned in 2014 after only 203ha hand been developed.

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