Chipinge Cotton Farmers Plead With Government

By Success Majaramhepo

Cotton farmers in Chipinge have called upon the government to increase cotton buyers after the Cotton Company of Zimbabwe failed to pay for the produce despite having an agreement. At the same time, the company is being accused of abusing the office of the President to manipulate the local cotton farmers. The mere mentioning of the office of the President is allegedly used to cushion the company from being questioned by local cotton farmers. In Chipinge district, there used to be five cotton companies that included COTTCO. However, as of today there is only COTTCO operating in the district.

Speaking during a meeting hosted by Platform for youth and community Development (PYCD) Chipinge, Ward 25 Councilor Wishes Hama said cotton farmers have entered into contracts with COTCO which is now manipulating farmers paying them with groceries instead of honoring their agreement.

“COTCO has disappointed us as cotton farmers in Chipinge. We are growing cotton for nothing because we are not being paid as agreed in the initial agreement. The company had a unilateral decision on paying us using groceries instead of monetary terms and the sad part is that the groceries are not equivalent to our produce. We are urging the government to increase cotton buyers for the sake of fairness and value for money.” said Hama

Another farmer, Sekai Taruvinga from Ward 20 in Chipinge said they are no longer able to send their children to school.

“I ventured into cotton farming in the early 90s and that is our source of livelihood and security. I am having a nightmare as the capacity to send children to school is being compromised through what the company is paying us. What boggles my mind is how did the company to such a decision and how did they evaluate the produce?”

“In Chipinge we do not have large portions of land to grow cotton so we rely on other people's land which we pay rent annually. This season I don’t know how am I going to pay my Landlord since COTCO hasn’t paid me. I sold 3 bales of cotton but was only given 750 milliliters of cooking oil, so tell me where am I going to get money to pay my land lord,” said Taruvinga

PYCD Director Claris Madhuku said cotton farmers are considering abandoning cotton farming to Sesame which is not a good option considering that region 5 is more conducive to cotton Farming.

"Cotton farmers in Chipinge have spoken out loud and clear. If there is no meaningful platform for dialogue with Cotton Companies concerning the market, farmers are considering abandoning cotton farming to Sesame (Uninga). This will not be a good option considering that region 5 is more conducive for cotton farming which has largely been responsible for sustaining 90 percent of peasant farmers in the area," said Madhuku.

However, the company is confirming paying cotton farmers in groceries but is putting the blame on the liquidity crunch currently facing the country.

“We have been paying some of the farmers using groceries. We are not reneging on the contracts we entered with the farmers, but we are giving them a choice of either receiving cash or groceries. As a company, we had committed to pay the farmers in United States dollars, cash in local currency or through mobile transfers, but due to the liquidity crunch, we have been forced to opt for the groceries. Farmers can either take the groceries or wait for cash as we are not forcing anyone.” Pious Manamike who the COTTCO Managing Director said

Chipinge is an agrarian society and PYCD has chipped in by working with various civic society groups to address issues affecting livelihoods in communities.

 

Chipinge Community Celebrates move to Curb Human-Wildlife Conflict

By Success Majaramhepo

Chipinge district has had challenges pertaining to human – wildlife conflict. This has posed a direct and recurring threat to the livelihood and safety of people in the community, and this has led to the persecution of wildlife and also the destruction of property and human life. People in the community have had their livelihood, security and wellbeing affected by the ravaging wildlife from the Save Conservancy.

This phenomenon became prominent after the Fast Track Land Reform programme that allowed people to invade farms for resettlement. However, there was no clarity on the status of the Save Conservancy in relation to the land reform programme.

“The greatest challenge we have right now is that people encroached into the conservancy and in the process destroyed the perimeter fence.” One of the game warden responded to us on condition of anonymity. “As we try to resolve the matter, what is still outstanding is the erection of the boundary fence. If we opt for the pre- land reform boundary, people will be found inside the conservancy and if we create a new boundary, the land size of the conservancy will be greatly reduced.”

A local youth and community development organization, Platform for Youth and Community Development (PYCD) convened a public meeting in Chibuwe to appraise the community on the process that is being done to curb human – wildlife conflict.

In the meeting, PYCD director Claris Madhuku said that, “human and wildlife conflict have persisted since 2015 with the government taking very little formalities to solve the problem. Since there was no commitment from the government to solve the problem PYCD chipped in as a community-based organization. We saw that it was better to solve community problems as a community,”

In 2015, PYCD wrote a letter to the government, through the portfolio committee on Environment,Water,Tourism and Hospitality Industry highlighting the challenges being faced by the community and how their livelihood and security are under constant threat from marauding wild animals like buffalos, elephants and lions. In the same year, the former Minister of Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, Tourism and Hospitality, Hon Oppah Muchinguri visited the area along the Save Conservancy and was appraised on 450 livestock that was lost by the people in the community. Her assurances of a solution to the problem never materialized. The 450 livestock were lost to lion and wild dogs attack.  

 “We went to Kariba, Hwange and Mahenye to see how the Campfire concept is being carried out and after the tour we lobbied the ward 20 councilor Mr Charles Mugidho to raise this in the council meeting. The councilor went on to have a meeting with environmental stakeholders to discuss the issue. As PYCD we are happy that our proposal for a Campfire concept has been adopted at the council level and there are chances that human and wildlife conflicts will be the thing of the past.” Said Madhuku.

When the Campfire’s adoption by the local authority was tabled before the community, the community was very receptive to the idea and happy to note that the challenge is being resolved locally.

“We are very happy to hear that there are moves to resolve the conflict between us people and wild animals. This community has suffered immensely from this conflict, and it is refreshing to note that a solution is on the way. We are indeed happy.” Catherine Vhutuza, a community member was ecstatic when she heard the Campfire concept being adopted.  

Councillor for Ward 20 Charles Mugidho applauded PYCD for their proposal saying they hope the Campfire project will help them to end this catastrophe.

“We thank PYCD for serving our community because we have lost our loved ones and our animals from lion, buffalo and elephant attacks. We talked to the government and Zimparks to help us as a community but it was a nightmare. As a community we hope that Campfire Concept will help us to minimize the bad effects of the conflict which has grave consequences for the farming sector,” said Mugidho.