ZESA cuts destroy crops
http://www.thezimbabwean.co.uk
Winter crops worth more than $20,000 have withered at Redwood irrigation
scheme in Umguza after the Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority cut power
supplies for non–payment of bills.
09.10.12
by Zwanai Sithole
Harare
“We admit we owe ZESA a debt of $3,000 but they should not have disconnected
us without discussing our payment arrangements which we had submitted. The
farmers were willing to settle their debts after harvesting their crop
during the first week of November,” said Newton Gwetu, one of the affected
farmers.
Another farmer at the scheme, Charles Ndlovu said farmers had used a lot of
money to buy farming inputs such as chemicals, seed, fertilizer, labour and
hiring tractors.
“All our efforts have gone down the drain. I was intending to clear all my
bills after the harvest but now I am stuck. I do not even know where I am
going to get the inputs for the coming farming season. The government should
assist us,” said Ndlovu.
The outgoing president of the Zimbabwe Commercial Farmers Union), Donald
Khumalo said the situation could have been avoided if the farmers had
approached his organisation for assistance.
“What happened at Redwood is unfortunate. Farmers should always engage us
and ZESA when they have such problems. We have approached ZESA on such
issues several times and they have been very supportive. Everyone knows that
things are bad for every sector that is why ZESA is willing to negotiate on
payment arrangements,” said Khumalo.