By Beatific Gumbwanda

Minister of Industry and Commerce, Nqobizitha Mangaliso Ndlovu, recently revealed government’s intention to break Tongaat Hulett Zimbabwe’s monopoly in the sugarcane milling industry by introducing new players.
He said this move was aimed at increasing competition, improve efficiency, and benefit local farmers and consumers.
Ndovu was responding to concerns that had been raised by Chiredzi Central MP Ropafadzo Makumire, in parliament recently, on government’s position in reducing sugarcane production costs which he said was the reason why Tongaat Hullett Zimbabwe’s was on a worker retrenchment drive.
“Tongaat Hulett Zimbabwe, the giant sugar producer in Zimbabwe, is currently in the process of retrenching 1 000 employees and to date, more than 100 have already been laid off. The company is citing hardships that are related to cheap imports that are coming in and the high cost of production that the company is experiencing.
“What measures is the government taking to ensure that even the cost of production remains minimum or average,” said Makumire.
In his response Ndlovu said the government had several plans to address the problem with one of them being introducing new players in the milling process saying they could not rely on one miller.
“I am not aware of the reasons why they are retrenching. I have had discussions, extensive discussions with Tongaat Hulett Zimbabwe and the importation of cheap sugar has not been raised as one of them. Our sugar is the most expensive in the continent.
“However, exporting companies increase their costs and it reduces their competitiveness. There are a number of issues that have to be addressed in the sector. Among these interventions will be the introduction of other players in the milling industry. We cannot continue to rely on one company,”said Ndlovu.
He went on to challenge farmers to up their game saying the country’s sugar production averaged a mere 40 tons per hectare, significantly lower than the optimal 130-170 tons and said it was the primary reason why Zimbabwe’s sugar was the most expensive in the continent.
“The sugar industry is vital to our economy, creating employment and supporting downstream industries. However, our farmers need to improve their yields to enhance competitiveness.
“By doing so, the industry can export larger quantities and reduce sugar prices for local consumers. It’s time for our farmers to take action and unlock the full potential of this vital sector,” said Ndlovu.
He said the medium and long-term growth of the sector lies in its ability to increase productivity in the sugarcane farming levels.
He said the average output was the core of why the sugar was not competitive and limit the country’s ability to export in large quantities.
To address this challenge, he said the first step was that the Government had designated sugarcane as a strategic crop.
Last year, Chiredzi North MP and sugarcane farmer Roy Bhila called on banks to partner with farmers and finance establishment of a mill to challenge Tongaat monopoly.
He said during his short stint as Deputy Minister of Industry and Commerce he had started enquiring about the project and had established that it was affordable for farmers if given a loan to establish their own mill.

By Virginia Njovo

Masvingo City Council recently held an induction workshop for School Development Committees (SDCs) drawn from council schools at Great Zimbabwe Hotel.
The workshop was focused on strengthening school governance and enhancing community involvement in education.
Masvingo City Council Communications and Public Relations Officer Ashleigh Jinjika said council was employing a transformative approach in its operations and was committed to collaborating closely with schools.
“Council reaffirmed its commitment to work closely with schools and communities to improve the learning environment and ensure every child have access to quality education.
“Having well-informed and trained SDCs can lead to sustained improvements in educational outcomes and greater community involvement. Implementing these induction workshops is crucial for the effective functioning of SDCs, ultimately benefiting the entire school community,” said Jinjika.
Jinjika said the workshop empowered SDCs with essential knowledge about their roles during their term of office.
“Empowering SDCs with knowledge and skills ensures that schools are effectively managed and that development is community-driven.”
Key focus areas during the sessions included establishment of SDCs, handover and takeover processes, roles and responsibilities of members, role of the responsible authority, recruitment and selection procedures, financial management and collaboration with school heads and council structures
There have been conflicts in schools over election of SDC followed by clashes between the committees and schools administrations affecting the smooth running of schools.
In June 2024, the SDC at Shakashe Primary School in Masvingo was up in arms with the school administration over the school’s intention to purchase a school bus accusing the latter of having misplaced priorities.
The parents were accusing the admin and the SDC of imposing a bus levy on them despite their refusal saying purchasing a bus could not be a top priority as other areas needed attention.