…say they have enough for three years
Upenyu
Chaota
Chaota
The ammendment of Statutory Instrument (SI) 122 of
2017 to allow individuals and companies with offshore accounts and free funds
to import specified basic goods among them sugar has put government on a
collision course with the Lowveld sugarcane farmers who say they have enough
supply for the next three years.
2017 to allow individuals and companies with offshore accounts and free funds
to import specified basic goods among them sugar has put government on a
collision course with the Lowveld sugarcane farmers who say they have enough
supply for the next three years.
Speaking during a business forum organised by the Minister
of State for Masvingo Provincial Affairs Ezra Chadzamira, Commercial Sugarcane
Association of Zimbabwe (CSAZ) chairperson Admore Hwarare challenged the government
on the wisdom of allowing imports.
of State for Masvingo Provincial Affairs Ezra Chadzamira, Commercial Sugarcane
Association of Zimbabwe (CSAZ) chairperson Admore Hwarare challenged the government
on the wisdom of allowing imports.
Hwarare said the sugar that was being sold at high
prices was not theirs as they supply to retailers with a favourable prices of
not more than $2 per kg.
prices was not theirs as they supply to retailers with a favourable prices of
not more than $2 per kg.
“It is important to consult first before implementing
policies. You deliberated in Harare and decided to import sugar without first
asking the farmers who have more than enough supply.
policies. You deliberated in Harare and decided to import sugar without first
asking the farmers who have more than enough supply.
“We have enough stock that can supply the country for
the next three years and the government decided to have sugar imported. We
should not import sugar at all because our farmers have enough.
the next three years and the government decided to have sugar imported. We
should not import sugar at all because our farmers have enough.
“We are still selling sugar from last year and we have
not touched a single granule from this year,” said Hwarare.
not touched a single granule from this year,” said Hwarare.
He said the government should protect locally-produced
goods especially if they existed in abundance.
goods especially if they existed in abundance.
Tongaat Hulett acting managing director, Aiden Mhere
also weighed in saying there was no order in the value chain and the government
had to step in and restore sanity.
also weighed in saying there was no order in the value chain and the government
had to step in and restore sanity.
“There is no order in the value chain. We need
equitable sharing of value. We supply them with sugar at $2 and they sell at
absurd prices. We need control,” said Mhere.
equitable sharing of value. We supply them with sugar at $2 and they sell at
absurd prices. We need control,” said Mhere.
The Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education, Amon
Murwira defended the government’s decision saying there was no sugar on the
shelves and the government had to act.
Murwira defended the government’s decision saying there was no sugar on the
shelves and the government had to act.
“What we observed as the government is that the goods
were not on the shelves and we had to act. You cannot hold people to ransom
over your business.You say you have enough sugar but why was it not on the
shelves,” said Murwira.
were not on the shelves and we had to act. You cannot hold people to ransom
over your business.You say you have enough sugar but why was it not on the
shelves,” said Murwira.
Great Zimbabwe University (GZU) vice chancellor
Professor Rungano Zvobgo challenged sugar farmers to go and flood the shops with
sugar so that queues could disappear.
Professor Rungano Zvobgo challenged sugar farmers to go and flood the shops with
sugar so that queues could disappear.
“We have enough supply but we see people queuing for
sugar. Let us flood the market with sugar so that the queues we see can
disappear. This will also see the price dropping,” said Zvobgo.
sugar. Let us flood the market with sugar so that the queues we see can
disappear. This will also see the price dropping,” said Zvobgo.
