ENVIRONMENT minister Saviour Kasukuwere says State-owned forestry companies should start paying dividends to Treasury or face closure as the government seeks to widen its revenue base to improve fiscal space.
“The honeymoon is over. The forestry sector should start paying dividends to government. Government-owned entities including the private sector must make contributions to the national fiscus. They must make contributions to the economy,” Kasukuwere said at a Forestry Indaba on Wednesday.
The government owns Allied Timbers, formerly the Forestry Company of Zimbabwe while the Zimbabwe Forestry Commission also falls under Kasukuwere’s remit.
“If they can’t contribute to the national fiscus, then there is no need for them to continue doing business. It’s better for government to shut them down and auction their properties.
“We know the sector is facing challenges but they should not continue using that as an excuse.” he said.
The companies last paid dividends in 2008, he said.
— The Source
