Sugarcane farmers, Tongaat Hulett clash

they accuse of undermining their viability.
Commercial Sugarcane Farmers Association of Zimbabwe (CFAZ) secretary general Mr Darlington Chiwa yesterday said that farmers planned to hold a demonstration against the South African sugar processor owing to a deadlock over their complaints.
The most pertinent complaint by the farmers was the low grading of their crop by Tongaat, which they said, was prejudicing them of a lot of money.
According to the farmers, the sugar processor always ‘unfairly’ lowly grades their crop.
In the industry, top sugarcane grades earn more money, and vice versa.
Mr Chiwa accused Tongaat of fleecing farmers, most of whom were resettled by the Government under the land reform programme, through the grading system.
“Sugarcane farmers no longer have faith in the millers,” he said.
Tongaat controls the two mills in Chiredzi, leaving the farmers with no option.
Mr Chiwa said farmers also suspected the company was over-charging them for services such as tillage, electricity and inputs.
He added that while a 50 kilogramme bag of ammonium nitrate fertiliser cost US$27, Tongaat was charging sugarcane farmers US$80.
He also said farmers were over-charged for electricity, for which they shared a common metre with the company.
No comment could be obtained from the company.
Mr Chiwa said farmers also wanted to be consulted and included as preferred partners in the indigenisation of Tongaat, a route he accused the company of not preferring.
The sugar processor wholly owns Triangle Sugar Estates, and has a controlling 50,3 percent stake in Hippo Valley, another big Chiredzi sugar producer.
Mr Chiwa said farmers had applied to the police for permission to hold a demonstration at the company, and were likely to do so sometime this week. – New Ziana.