News / National
Zanu-PF Iron Lady threatens Tongaat Hullet
16 Mar 2015 at 07:05hrs | Views
Newly appointed Masvingo Provincial Affairs minister and Zanu-PF's Iron Lady Shuvai Mahofa has threatened to shut down sugar producer, Tongaat Hullet for allegedly disregarding the country's controversial indigenisation policy.
According to the Newsday, the threats came shortly after some ruling party officials accused the firm of bankrolling former Joice Mujuru's alleged plot to unseat President Robert Mugabe.
Recently the company reportedly spurned government's $30 million loan request to fund the completion of Tokwe Mukorsi Dam.
Mahofa last month led a Zanu OF delegation to the company's plant in Chiredzi where they ordered the sugar producing firm to cede 20 000 hectares of its plantations to indigenous farmers, but the directive is yet to be carried out.
Meanwhile, Mahofa has barred Tourism and Hospitality Industry Minister Walter Mzembi from taking over part of Barquest Farm, which is home to the province's largest hatchery project that produces 100 000 day-old chicks per week.
The farm, owned by Hellen Mitchell is located near Lake Mutirikwi, about 20km east of Masvingo city. Minister Mzembi wanted to partner Mitchell in the hatchery project after he was issued with an offer letter for about 370 hectares of land at Barquest Farm that was gazetted for acquisition under the land reform programme a few years ago.
On Thursday, Sen Mahofa said Minister Mzembi was not supposed to take over the farm as it was strategic to Masvingo province in terms of supply of chicks and eggs.
Mitchell also supplies Manicaland and Midlands provinces.
Sen Mahofa said she had already informed officials in the Ministry of Lands and Rural Resettlement in Masvingo to identify another farm for Minister Mzembi.
She said other senior officials in the province like Zimbabwe Chiefs' Council president Chief Fortune Charumbira wanted to take over the farm a few years ago but were stopped because of its strategic importance to Masvingo.
Mzembi said he wanted to co-exist with Mitchell at Barquest, saying his offer letter was for part of the farm that was gazetted.
According to the Newsday, the threats came shortly after some ruling party officials accused the firm of bankrolling former Joice Mujuru's alleged plot to unseat President Robert Mugabe.
Recently the company reportedly spurned government's $30 million loan request to fund the completion of Tokwe Mukorsi Dam.
Mahofa last month led a Zanu OF delegation to the company's plant in Chiredzi where they ordered the sugar producing firm to cede 20 000 hectares of its plantations to indigenous farmers, but the directive is yet to be carried out.
Meanwhile, Mahofa has barred Tourism and Hospitality Industry Minister Walter Mzembi from taking over part of Barquest Farm, which is home to the province's largest hatchery project that produces 100 000 day-old chicks per week.
On Thursday, Sen Mahofa said Minister Mzembi was not supposed to take over the farm as it was strategic to Masvingo province in terms of supply of chicks and eggs.
Mitchell also supplies Manicaland and Midlands provinces.
Sen Mahofa said she had already informed officials in the Ministry of Lands and Rural Resettlement in Masvingo to identify another farm for Minister Mzembi.
She said other senior officials in the province like Zimbabwe Chiefs' Council president Chief Fortune Charumbira wanted to take over the farm a few years ago but were stopped because of its strategic importance to Masvingo.
Mzembi said he wanted to co-exist with Mitchell at Barquest, saying his offer letter was for part of the farm that was gazetted.
Source - news
