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“It employed over 10 000 people directly and 40 000 indirectly. But this is not the case now.
WATTLE Company’s Nyanga Pine Estate in Dunsinane, Mutasa district, has been caught in a storm with Zanu-PF youths who are crying foul after some sawmill contractors were allegedly sent away without warning.
This was revealed last Saturday during a youth meeting with the Minister of Youth, Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment, Cde Patrick Zhuwao held in Mutare.
One sawmill contractor, Marshal Manjeya refuted that little was being done towards ensuring employment creation and beneficiation in Manicaland despite having vast natural resources.
He fingered Wattle Company’s recent dismissal of local contractors as a sham, leaving a select-few contractors, among them Chinese saw millers.
“Manicaland is the richest province but sadly has one of the highest poverty rates. We have a lot of natural resources — timber, diamonds, gold but have little to show for it. Wattle Company recently stopped all contractors in their Mutasa Estate and I am one of them, a youth. So Honourable Minister (Zhuwao), we can talk about value addition, beneficiation and empowerment, but on the ground what we are experiencing as youths is disheartening,” said Manjeya.
Cde Zhuwao noted the issue with concern and said more investigation into the matter was required.
Commenting on the issue on Wednesday, Wattle Company community affairs manager, Mr Maxwell Kuhudzayi, neither confirmed nor dismissed the claims.
“To discuss the issue in a paper is difficult but if anyone has a problem they should come and approach us,” said Mr Kuhudzai.
However, an inside source at Wattle Company that requested anonymity revealed that the sacked saw millers were not performing as agreed in their contractual agreements.
“Each saw miller signs an agreement set on targets that are supposed to be met. Those not performing were therefore dismissed,” said the source.
Wattle Company, which has been operating since 1945 currently owns and manages 45 000 hectares of forestry plantations that has been developed into pine, wattle and eucalyptus processed into four core products namely sawn timber, wattle extract, treated poles and charcoal. Its products service both the local and export markets.
During the same event Zanu-PF secretary for administration, Cde Kenneth Saruchera speaking on behalf of the acting Zanu-PF chairman, Cde Samuel Undenge pointed out that the timber industry was in dire straits.
“Timber used to be the biggest employer in Manicaland both in terms of direct employment and through downstream industries such as transport.
“It employed over 10 000 people directly and 40 000 indirectly. But this is not the case now,” said Cde Saruchera.
The bulk of the national timber industry lies in Manicaland Province.
Timber export earnings have dropped by 68 percent, from US$34,9 million in 2005 to US$11,3 million in 2012, while employment in the industry fell by 43 percent over the comparable period to less than 8,000 workers, from 14,253 in 2005.
Youths also complained about the 25-percent youth quota enshrined in the Youth Policy by Cabinet in 2013, citing that it was not being observed on the ground.
Online Reporter