Tobacco farmers, who sold their crop to Voedsel Enterprises, are struggling to get payment and some of them are being forced to stage night vigils at the company’s offices in Harare’s Glen Lorne suburb.
The company took the crop from the farmers between February and March, and promised to pay the farmers within seven days.
Several farmers from as far as Karoi, Magunje, Macheke and Rusape recently picketed at the company’s Glen Lorne offices demanding payment as pressure to prepare for the 2024/25 farming season increases.
This publication heard that some of the farmers are owed over US$10 000.
Others camped at the offices without food for over three nights, and had neighbours to thank for handouts.
“We have suffered and we wish the President (Emmerosn Mnangagwa) knew this,” one of the farmers, who had walked from the city centre told Standard People.
The farmers left frustrated after being told by company officials that there is nothing they could do because “the company is politically connected.”
Several attempts to get a comment from Innocent Mahufe, the firm’s managing director, were fruitless.
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Agriculture minister Anxious Masuka also did not respond to questions.
The Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board (TIMB) said farmers who were not paid should approach its offices for assistance to recover their money.
“We have had such issues in the previous years and resolved them as soon as they came to our attention,” TIMB said in response.
“During the 2021/22 season, we introduced a new regulation that tobacco farmers should be paid within 48 hours of sales completion and those who are not paid within this time frame should notify us or assistance.
“We expanded our inspectorate department to ensure there are enough personnel to ensure all tobacco growers get paid on time. “
The tobacco marketing regulator said it has revoked licences of companies that fail to pay farmers.
TIMB did not respond to queries on why Voedsel’s licence has not been suspended for failing to pay farmers for tobacco deliveries.
Voedsel has been in the news on several occasions for failing to pay farmers on time.
According to its website, the company is licensed with the TIMB as a Class A buyer.
The licence permits the company to buy tobacco in Zimbabwe for export.
