Angry workers set fire to sugar cane crop

MASVINGO - At least 100 hectares under sugar cane went up in smoke when workers in the Lowveld downed tools and set ablaze the mature crop to press for better salaries and the immediate dismissal of union leaders.

The workers are demanding payment in foreign currency. They say they want the lowest paid worker to earn US$130 a month.

Following negotiations which were largely unfruitful this week the angry workers set the fields of mature sugar cane ablaze.

The workers also demanded the immediate dismissal of Admore Hwarare the self proclaimed president of the Zimbabwe Sugar Milling Industry Workers Union (ZISMIWU). They accuse him of failing to properly represent them and of abusing union funds.

Police in Chiredzi yesterday confirmed the incident. They said no arrests had been made so far.

“We are investigating a case in which workers in the sugar industry from Mkwasine, Hippo Valley and Triangle estates set on fire the mature crop”, said a police spokesman who requested anonymity.

“We have not arrested anyone but investigations are continuing”.

Hwarare also confirmed the industrial action.

“The workers set ablaze the crop because they were pressing management to act on the issue of salary increments”, he said.

However investigations by The Zimbabwe Times revealed that the workers apart from the salary increases the workers would also want Hwarare to immediately relinquish his post.

“We no longer want Hwarare because he has abused us “, said one of the disgruntled workers.”He does not represent us properly but instead milks us dry every month by collecting union subscriptions.

“We did not vote for him hence we are calling for his immediate dismissal”.

Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) Masvingo regional coordinator Wilson Mposhi said the Hwarare led executive was illegitimate.

“Workers normally choose their own union leaders but in this case Hwarare just imposed himself on the workers”, said Mposhi.

“We need to revamp the whole executive and the workers no longer want to see Hwarare and his executive”.

This is not the first time that the workers in the sugar industry have set ablaze the crop on fire.

Last year the disgruntled workers also set ablaze the mature crop to press for salary increments.

Meanwhile Hippo Valley and Triangle Limited have resumed sugar sales after briefly suspending sales, citing low prices and demanding from government that the product be sold in foreign currency.

Given the current dollarisation of the country’s economy the two sugar milling giants have since been allowed to sale sugar in forex.

Before the dollarisation of the economy sugar prices were controlled by government and any price increases were supposed to be approved by the state.

SOURCE: thezimbabwetimes