Chinamasa last week accused the company of deliberately sabotaging the country’s agriculture by continuing to import fresh produce from neighbouring South Africa.
The Johannesburg Stock Exchange-listed firm this year completed the acquisition of a majority stake in TM Supermarkets in Zimbabwe. It is re-branding TM following the $13 million transaction.
However, during aN empowerment conference in Harare, Chinamasa hit out at Pick n Pay for maintaining imports of fresh produce from South Africa.
“Visit any Pick n Pay supermarket and you will see that 99 percent of their goods are imported from South Africa. In fact, Pick n Pay is in support of South Africa’s export strategy. They are importing lettuce, cabbages and tomatoes, which could be locally produced. We have to empower the locals and we might need to look at legal instruments available to ensure compliance,” the Minister was quoted as saying.
Approached for comment by The Zimbabwean, senior officials from the retailer would not respond to Chninamsa’s assertion.
“Pick n Pay would prefer not to comment at this time,” said Tamra Veley, Pick n Pay spokesman.
Post published in: Agriculture