By Beatific Gumbwanda
MASVINGO – Sugarcane farmers have appealed to the Minister of State for Masvingo Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Ezra Chadzamira, to intervene in a deepening crisis after Tongaat Hulett Zimbabwe (THZ) imposed a unilateral ban on cane deliveries at its Triangle and Hippo Valley mills, specifically targeting farmers under the Cane Purchase Agreement (CPA), following a deadlock over pricing, TellZim News can report.Farmers contracted under the CPA have reached an impasse with THZ over the price of cane. In response, the miller banned deliveries from CPA farmers, a move that farmers say will lead to crop losses and threaten their livelihoods.During the previous season, THZ purchased cane at approximately US72 per tonne and this season the company proposed lowering the price to US$61 per tonne. However, farmers demanded an increase from last year’s price to approximately US$83 per tonne. The deadlock delayed cane deliveries for farmers contracted under the CPA, while those under the Cane Milling Agreement (CMA) have been allowed to continue deliveries.On May 5, 2026, THZ Commercial Director Mangani wrote to farmers outlining the company’s position on deliveries during the CPA deadlock. He confirmed that farmers already operating under CMA from the previous season could continue delivering their cane.“Deliveries from farmers who were already on CMA from the previous season are proceeding on the positions agreed with the negotiators, wherein the agreement was not amended, save for extension of election date. On those farmers that intend to take up the CPA, please note that the mills cannot legally accept cane under CPA until a price is in place. The negotiation process failed to reach an agreement on the cane price, and therefore the mills cannot buy cane not knowing the price,” wrote Mangani.On May 8, 2026, the Zimbabwe Sugarcane Apex Council, a grouping of farmer leadership representing various farmer associations wrote to Minister Chadzamira, requesting his intervention to resolve the matter amicably. The council said the ban was a serious violation of the Cane Purchase Agreement.“The ban was imposed in serious violation of clause 2 of the Cane Purchase Agreement and was done without prior consultation with farmers from Triangle, Hippo Valley and Mkwasine Estate.“This unilateral position disregards the operational culture and practices of the sugar industry. The miller has an obligation to receive cane from growers from the beginning of the season to the end, regardless of the state of agreement, and must not separate farmers on the basis of the agreement they choose,” reads part of the letter.The farmers indicated that the suspension of cane deliveries was already causing measurable damage. Standing cane is overmaturing and losing sucrose content.Three days after the farmers’ appeal to the Minister, Mangani loosened the screws, proposing to purchase cane from CPA farmers at a provisional price. Any difference would be paid after the Minister determines the final price.“For a limited period of one month, from 12 May to 12 June 2026, the millers are proposing to purchase cane from CPA farmers at a provisional price of US$61.82. This price is provisional, meaning that once the new price is reached by the Minister, the miller will honour the new price for all cane delivered up to 12 June 2026, and will pay the difference between the determined price and the provisional price for that period,” wrote Mangani.
