Tongaat Hulett Zimbabwe, has reaffirmed its long-term commitment to the country, adding that it was ready to work with the Government on the US$40 million Kilimanjaro sugarcane project.
The game-changing project had temporarily stopped due to lack of clarity on the issue of tenure on Tongaat’s land, but the South African headquartered sugar maker is now set to proceed with the project.
Under the Kilimanjaro project, Tongaat in partnership with Government and local financial institutions, is developing 3 300 hectares of virgin land near Hippo Valley Estates that will be put under cane and allocated to indigenous growers as part of an empowerment drive.
The project is being developed under a full cost recovery basis.
Before work stopped last year, about 700ha had been developed and put under cane with around 40 indigenous beneficiaries having already been allocated the plots.
Minister of State for Masvingo Provincial Affairs and Devolution Ezra Chadzamira yesterday said the sugarcane development project was now set to resume.
‘’Tongaat and its partners completed the first phase where 700ha were developed and put under cane before allocation to beneficiaries and work is now poised to start on the second phase of the project.