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George Maponga in Chiredzi
Lowveld sugar cane producer, Tongaat Huletts will, with immediate effect, start development of 4,000 hectares of virgin land into irrigable cane plots for nearly 140 new model A2 indigenous farmers in Triangle and Hippo Valley.The farmers were issued offer letters by the government in December 2012 after the state had struck an agreement with Tongaat Huletts to develop cane plots for indigenous people under the land reform programme.

Senior Tongaat Huletts officials led by the firm’s managing director Sydney Mutsambiwa told a high-powered Masvingo provincial leadership delegation comprising Politburo and Central Committee members, chiefs and war veterans last week that development of virgin land into irrigable plots for local farmers was set to start.

Zanu-PF acting Masvingo provincial chairman Cde Paradzai Chakona said Tongaat Huletts was going to develop the virgin land in phases.
Cde Chakona said 1,800 hectares would be developed during the first phase.

“We’re happy that Tongaat Huletts has secured $20 million to immediately start development of virgin land into cane plots that will be allocated to our people with offer letters. Our people had waited for too long, but we’re happy that finally something is about to take off the ground now,’’ he said.

“We also want to pay tribute to Tongaat Huletts management and shareholders for running around to mobilise funding required to develop the land. The development of cane plots for our farmers in Chiredzi is in line with the Zanu-PF government’s empowerment drive,’’ added Cde Chakona.

He said the undertaking by Tongaat Huletts to finally start developing new cane fields at Hippo Valley and Mkwasine, would bring closure to one of the most outstanding developmental issues in Masvingo.

There were reports that some senior politicians in Chiredzi and the previous Zanu-PF provincial executive led by Retired Brigadier General Callisto Gwanetsa were throwing spanners in the project by insisting that a new list of beneficiaries be drawn up.

There are less than 1,000 indigenous farmers in the lucrative sugar cane farming sector.

The farmers were allocated plots at Hippo Valley, Mkwasine and Triangle estates and own land that straddles over 16,000 hectares.