……..as NEC Agriculture moves to strengthen relations with sugarcane Agriculture subsector
By Beatific Gumbwanda
The National Employment Council for the Agricultural Industry (NEC Agriculture) recently held a significant employer engagement session with stakeholders from across the sugarcane subsector, where it indicated that the minimum wage has increased from the initial US$137 to US$148 in the Agricultural subsector, which is a biggest achievement towards attainment of vision 2030 of an upper middle class economy, TellZim News can report.
NEC Agriculture hosted its inaugural stakeholders’ engagement meeting with the sugarcane subsector at Palm Tree Place to plan the way forward through dialogue designed to inform and motivate, where it highlighted that the minimum wage had just increased by 8%, from US$137 to US$148, which is a significant milestone towards attainment of an Upper middle income economy by 2030
Since its establishment in 1991, the National Employment Council for the Agriculture Industry in Zimbabwe has aimed to promote social justice and democracy within the industry through social dialogue, bringing together employers, any individual employer wishing to participate, and registered trade unions representing workers.
The meeting was attended by representatives from the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare, leadership from the Zimbabwe Sugarcane Growers Apex Council, and employer associations from across the Lowveld region.
NEC Agriculture’s Chief Executive Officer, Brian Muchena, opened the meeting by recognising the significance of the sugarcane subsector, which spans from agricultural enterprise into manufacturing, energy production, and even advanced material sciences, where he indicated that through Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), the minimum wages had increased from US$137 to US$148.
“We all know how the adage is true that sugar is in all that we eat, and the importance of this subsector to this agricultural industry, to manufacturing, to energy production, and nowadays even in the material sciences, can only be understated by the ignorant,”
“Through the recent CBA, the minimum wage in the Agricultural subsector has just increased by 8%, from US$137 up to US$ 148, making it a significant step towards attainment of vision 2030,” said Muchena.
This view was supported by NEC Agriculture Chairperson, Tsitsi Nyirenda, who urged farmers to leave a legacy that future generations will admire.
“Have you created your own blueprint in line with the Nation’s 2030 vision? What are you going to bring to the table? Your children should thank you for efficiently utilising the land after you are gone,” said Nyirenda.
Muchena emphasised that this was a reminder of how crucial the industry’s labour relations are.
He also mentioned that the Council has a fully operational regional office staffed by three full-time employees, a deliberate investment in proximity and responsiveness to the region’s employers and workers.
“They are there to meet your needs, and with your support, they will continue to perform the essential work of your employment council,” added Muchena.
The meeting was initiated by the formal gazettal of the Job Evaluation Report for the sugarcane subsector, registered as Statutory Instrument 224 of 2025, which officially codifies jobs and grades across the industry.
This provided an opportunity for employers to understand what the instrument means for their operations and workers, breaking down legal jargon into practical workplace guidance.
Muchena concluded by highlighting the current challenges and opportunities within the context of the national Vision 2030 strategy, Zimbabwe’s blueprint for achieving upper-middle-income status.
“We are in a time of great complexity. However, we are also in a time of great optimism, and cooperation guarantees it. Divisions destroy the prospects of it,” said Muchena.
Bernadette Chipembere Tamba, Chairperson of the Zimbabwe Sugarcane Development Association (ZSDA), also stressed in her vote of thanks the importance of ongoing engagement between NEC Agriculture and sugarcane farmers through improved communication processes that will continually enlighten both parties about the intricacies of the industry.
