Officially launching the Masvingo Community Share Ownership scheme, Kasukuwere said his ministry was facing resistance from some companies, among them Tongaat Hulett.
“Here in Masvingo we are facing serious problems with Tongaat Hulett and I do not know who they think they are”, said Kasukuwere. “We are the owners of this land and therefore I am warning such companies that they should comply or risk being blacklisted by the government.”
However, Tongaat Hulett has already said that it has fully complied with the laws of the land.
Experts in the sugar industry have warned the government from interfering with the operations of Tungaat Hullets since this might result in serious sugar shortages.
The company operates Triangle and Hippo Valley sugar milling concerns.
The Masvingo Community Share Ownership Trust was launched after several months of haggling as Zanu (PF) factions in Masvingo clashed over the scheme.
At the centre of controversy were Former Governor Dzikamai Mavhaire and Paul Munyaradzi Mangwana who had clashed over shares in Bikita minerals, the country’s sole lithium producer.
Mavhaire claimed he already had shares in Bikita minerals and therefore there was no need to indigenize the mining giant. Mangwana challenged Mavhaire to produce evidence of where he got the money to buy the shares and accused him of being a front for the whites.
Post published in: Agriculture