Kasukuwere threatens Tongaat over indigenisation
By Alex Bell
15 April 2013
South African sugar company Tongaat Hulett is facing even more pressure to
comply with the ZANU PF led indigenisation drive, with the Empowerment
Minister threatening to expel the company.
Saviour Kasukuwere last week said if Tongaat failed to comply with the
country’s indigenisation regulations by July this year, it would be barred
from operating in Zimbabwe.
“Tongaat Hulett is a major cause for concern. They don’t respect the laws of
the country and that is unfortunate. Come July, they will not be planting
cane in Zimbabwe, maybe they will be in Durban. Those who don’t want to
comply must pack and go. They are a big company, it is fair they respect the
laws of the land. We are not against their investment, but their bad
attitude,” he said.
He also went on to accuse the company of harbouring a regime change agenda
to oust ZANU PF.
“Any company defying us is saying ZANU PF must go to hell. Some companies
are doing it for political purposes. They have a regime change agenda. They
think the bid to remove ZANU PF from power will succeed. But there is no
regime change, if you think MDC will win, forget it. If you are thinking
there is an electoral upset for (President Robert) Mugabe, you are lost,”
Kasukuwere said.
Kasukuwere has for months led a threatening campaign against international
companies that have been slow to give in to the indigenisation exercise, and
the sugar company has been facing worsening threats. Last November,
Kasukuwere said an investigation had been launched and threatened the
company directors with jail time, for allegedly lying about the ownership
structure of its Zim subsidiaries Triangle and Hippo Valley.
There were also other threat last year. In a letter dated October 23rd and
addressed to Triangle, the Ministry of Indigenisation warned that it was
losing patience with the sugar company and, “should we not receive a proper
compliant plan within the prescribed period, ministry and government would
take it that shareholders of Triangle are not interested in continuing to do
business in the country.”