admin
The frustrated farmers who spoke to Chronicle at the farm on Monday said their crop, which was planted in June, was a complete write-off.
The vice chairman of the scheme, Mr Mbuso Nxumalo, said they tried to engage Zesa on numerous occasions to settle their debt, but the power utility would not budge.
“Zesa cut power from us on 4 September over a debt of $3 000. They said we should pay at least $750 before they reconnect us. We did that but they did not connect us despite numerous visits to their offices,” said Mr Nxumalo.
“They only came last week on Friday and connected us power but our crop was already damaged. As you can see there is no hope of any yield and everything we had invested is just a loss.”
The treasurer of the scheme, Mrs Possenta Ngwenya, said the cooperative, which has about 30 members, had used $8 130 to buy inputs such as seed, fertiliser, chemicals for spraying, fuel for tractors and paying for labour.
“We invested more than $8 000 here and were expecting to reap 40 tonnes that was going to give us about $20 000. The crop was at maturity stage and needed water so much. We then engaged our councillor, Mrs Sikhanyisiwe Mpofu to help us talk to Zesa,” said Mrs Ngwenya.
Another member of the co-operative, Mrs Nomsa Nyoni, said the farmers had also planted other crops such as tomatoes and cabbages, which were also destroyed.
She said they had expected to harvest the crop in the first week of November.
“This is our industry and it is so cruel of Zesa to frustrate our efforts. This is a deliberate sabotage and we wonder whether President Mugabe condones this behaviour. We did not refuse to pay for power because we were paying $200 per month. After all Zesa used estimated readings because their meter was not functioning for the past five years,” said Mr Nxumalo.
The farmers said they were in a desperate situation and appealed to the Government and well wishers to assist them with inputs for the coming farming season.
“We pay fees for our children using money from this farm. Now we have lost everything. May the Government assist us because we have nowhere to go?
“Agritex officers came here and wrote off our crop,” said Mrs Edith Moyo, the project’s secretary.
Matabeleland North provincial Agritex officer Mr Dumisani Nyoni confirmed the development.
“The issue came to our attention and I have visited the farmers to assess their crop. All I can say is that it is an unfortunate situation,” said Mr Nyoni.
Mrs Mpofu also confirmed the issue and condemned Zesa’s attitude.
“We tried by all means to engage Zesa over this issue but failed. It is more than three weeks since they disconnected power at the farm.
“They would go there several times but not connect power,” she said.
Other farmers in the area also complained that Zesa was sabotaging their activities with its incessant power cuts.
Zesa regional manager for the southern region Mr Lovemore Chinaka said he was not aware of the issue and referred questions to his network manager, a Mr Nkiwane.
“I am not aware of that issue and I am out of town as we speak. You can get in touch with Mr Nkiwane who is the network manager for Bulawayo rural,” he said.
Mr Nkiwane could not be reached for comment.
Online Reporter
Bongani Ndlovu