MASVINGO — Indigenisation minister Saviour Kasukuwere will soon be taking his empowerment crusade against foreign-owned firms to Masvingo province where he is set to claim a 51% stake in Zimbabwe’s sole lithium producer Bikita Minerals, Renco Mine, Malilangwe Trust and sugar conglomerate Tongaat Hullet.
Chairperson of Masvingo Industry, Commerce, Mining and Tourism sub- committee Munyaradzi Rubaya yesterday said Bikita Minerals would be Kasukuwere’s “next port of call” after Zimplats in Mashonaland West.
“Under the Community Share Ownership Trust, we are targeting four firms, namely Bikita Minerals, Renco Mine, Tongaat Hullet and Malilangwe Trust in the Lowveld,” Rubaya said.
“Very soon we will launch the Bikita Minerals Community Share Ownership Trust before moving to the other shortlisted organisations.”
He could not give the exact dates or the structure of the ownership schemes, referring questions to Kasukuwere.
The provincial head of the Youth Indigenisation and Empowerment ministry, only identified as Machako, could not be reached for comment.
Top Zanu PF officials have been tussling for control of Bikita Minerals, touted as the second biggest lithium producer in Africa.
At one time, Bikita Minerals director Dzikamai Mavhaire, who is also former Masvingo Governor and Zanu PF politburo member, was involved in a war of words with Chivi Central MP Munyaradzi Paul Mangwana (Zanu PF) after the latter accused him of “being a front for the whites”, a charge Mavhaire vehemently denied.
