Cotton firms demand pound of flesh

Farmers in Mbire district have called on Government to intervene as cotton-buyers seize food and productive assets, among other essentials, to recover debts accrued from the last cropping season.
The recoveries have seen villagers hiding in the bush, stashing valuables at neighbour’s houses, letting their livestock loose for days on end – at the risk of being eaten by wild animals – all in a bid to avoid debt collectors.
“We acknowledge that we owe these companies but the manner with which they have been treating us leaves a lot to be desired. If they take away our food, and especially that we are facing a food crisis, how do they want us to survive and prepare for the next cropping season?” asked Mr Kembo Magonyo, who said he was being pursued over a US$54 debt.
Recently-elected Member of Parliament for Mbire constituency, Cde Douglas Karoro said this was one of the challenges he was tackling.
“We have received those complaints and what we want to do is engage the cotton companies so that they don’t repossess food or productive assets. I think it will be a win-win case if they re-arrange the payment of the debts as everyone knows that floods affected last year’s cotton crop and the farmers should be given a second chance to pay their debts.”
Mr Kerasi Chibaya, who is Headman Mudzongachiso in the Nyambudzi area, said when he addressed villagers, they showed a willingness to pay up.
“Our area is always either receiving too much rains causing floods or too little rain causing drought, and the past two or three seasons have not been good for our cotton farmers. This is coupled with the poor prices that cotton has been attracting and the farmers’ woes have not eased.
“As the companies are coming to recover unannounced, most of my villagers are spending most of their day time in the mountains, coming back at night to sleep. Some of them are not locking up their cattle at night because they fear when the debt collectors come, they would take their animals,” added the headman.
Further irking the villagers, said Mr Magonyo, was that the companies were adding interest and debt collector’s fees to the principal debt.
“You are usually surprised when they tell you from that from the two packets of seed that you would have borrowed, your amount is now running into more than US$100. And usually the debt collectors don’t have the courtesy of explaining anything, they just want you to pay the outstanding amount.”
Cde Karoro advised farmers to read contracts before signing them or ask for assistance.