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Walter Mswazie recently in Chiredzi
SUGAR manufacturing giant Tongaat Hulett has planted 329 hectares of winter maize, which will see the company producing about 1,300 metric tonnes of the crop.
The project is expected to assist about 480,000 families with food aid throughout Masvingo Province, company management said.
Speaking during a tour of the project in Triangle recently, Tongaat managing director Sydney Mutsambiwa said the initiative was part of the company’s corporate social responsibility to the community they operate in.
Mutsambiwa said the project will also provide job opportunities to the community as they were going to hire labour for weeding, security and harvesting.
He said the company was keen to partner the government in addressing food security challenges in the face of drought that negatively affected yields.
Chiredzi, Mwenezi and Chivi districts were the hardest hit by drought in Masvingo.
“We’ve embarked on massive winter maize farming to produce 1,300 metric tonnes by end of October. Our aim is to assist the government in addressing food security challenges given that there is drought after crop failure in the province,” said Mutsambiwa.
“We’re also looking forward to providing jobs for the unemployed members of the community.”
He said Tongaat Hulett will always assist the government in its endeavour to successfully implement its economic blue-print, the Zimbabwe Agenda for Sustainable Socio-Economic Transformation (Zim-Asset).
“This is our contribution in a small way towards meeting the aspirations of Zim-Asset. I think we’re in the same track because our efforts will directly improve the livelihoods of communities as well as giving a facelift to our agriculture in the lowveld,” Mutsambiwa added.
The Minister of State for Liaising on Psychomotor Activities in Education, Senator Josiah Hungwe hailed the company for its philanthropic gesture and urged it to embrace out-growers.
“Companies like Tongaat Hulett deserve government support because they’re helping our people. This philanthropic gesture should be commended since it helps people of Masvingo,” he said.
Sen Hungwe urged the company to work closely with the provincial leadership to foster increased development.
“We’re satisfied that Tongaat has the capacity of making genuine contribution to the cause of the whole province led by Senator Shuvai Mahofa (Minister of State for Masvingo Province).
“I urge the management to be in constant touch with the provincial leadership. I believe you’ve extended this gesture because you’ve an appreciation of the challenges faced by people in this province. I urge you to have many out-grower schemes as they’ll provide employment to a number of unemployed people in this province,” he said.
Minister Mahofa, Chief’s Council President Fortune Charumbira, Tongaat Hulett management and Zanu PF leadership attended the meeting.
Online Reporter