Walter Mswazie Masvingo Correspondent
Government plans to continue its partnership with Lowveld sugar producer Tongaat Huletts Zimbabwe by expanding irrigated land under winter maize to 500 hectares and boost food security in Masvingo province.

Last year slightly above 300ha was put under winter maize in Chiredzi in a venture that realised over 1 000 tonnes of maize.

Masvingo Provincial Affairs Minister Senator Josaya Hungwe on Wednesday said Government has already engaged Tongaat for the latter to avail more land for winter maize. Addressing a press conference here, Senator Hungwe said the planned expansion of the winter maize project will produce 1 500 tonnes of grain for the drought-prone province.

“We have already talked to Tongaat Huletts to expand land under winter maize project to 500 hectares because we want to increase grain production to about 1 500 tonnes per year,” said Senator Hungwe.

“Currently, there is thriving winter maize project on the 317ha that was reserved for the project at Triangle Estates. We are expecting to produce about 1000 tonnes this year.’’

The Masvingo Provincial Affairs Minister would continue to devise more strategies to make sure the province was food secure.

“The bible says, ngativei nekudya kwakaringana nguva dzose (we should have enough food every time).

“Tongaat Huletts is assisting Government in planting and harvesting the maize. The company no longer imports maize from South Africa to feed its employees as before thereby saving foreign currency,” he said.

Senator Hungwe, however, expressed concern that the sugar producer had stopped its extension workers from rendering assistance in the winter maize project saying engagement was underway to reverse the move.

He said Masvingo has since stopped distribution of grain produced from the winter maize initiative to other provinces with surplus maize now being sold to generate income for the recently launched Masvingo Development Trust.

Turning to the stalled Beitbridge —Harare highway dualisation project, Senator Hungwe expressed concern over delays to kick-off the project and urged Government to expedite the re-tendering process.

This follows the cancellation of the tender awarded to Austrian contractor, Geiger International to dualise the highway.

President Mnangagwa recently said Government had withdrawn the tender awarded to Geiger citing the firm’s apparent lack of financial capacity to undertake the job leading to delays in its take-off.

“We are worried as some of the biggest beneficiaries of this very important dualisation project that it remains unclear when work will start.

“We hope the new contractor will commence the project soon because we have been waiting for too long. We have heard about some engagements taking place with a new contractor and we hope something works out soon,” he said.