The ManicaPost
Samuel Kadungure
Senior Reporter
ANGRY tobacco growers on Wednesday besieged Victor contract floors in Rusape – demanding proceeds from their crop sold to the contract company three weeks ago.
The fiasco courted the attention of the Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board (TIMB), which allegedly suspended the beleaguered company’s licence for abrogating regulations compelling buyers to pay growers within the stipulated two days of tobacco purchase.
The affected growers told The Manica Post on Thursday that they were stranded at Victory contract floors, opposite Chibuku Breweries in Rusape, after authorities vanished without paying them.
Some of the smallholder growers sold their crop as far back as April 13, 2021 and have not been paid.
Mr John Mutumbami said the growers were last week advised to come and collect their vouchers on May 5, 2021, but upon arrival, the authorities disappeared, leaving them stranded at the premises.
“We neither have food to eat nor transport money to go back to our homes. We are being forced to put up at the contract floors, men and women, in the same room. This is unfair, and we are calling on TIMB to intervene and protect us against these pretenders masquerading tobacco buyers.
“I sold my crop on April 27, 2021 and the money was supposed to reflect in my account immediately, but this is the 9th day, and no money has been deposited in my account.
All I am getting are their changing versions of reality. We have nothing to show for our hard work, yet back home we have families to feed and workers to pay,” said Mr Mutumbami.
TIMB spokesperson Ms Chelesani Moyo could neither confirm nor deny the suspension of Victory’s licence.
“I will revert,” she said.
However, the Tobacco Farmers Trust Union (TFTU) president Mr Victor Mariranyika said the company has since been stopped from buying tobacco by TIMB.
“They have been stopped after failing to pay farmers. Unfortunately the farmers are starving at their premises without anyone attending to them. This is a very saddening scenario. After all the hard work the grower is subjected to post-harvest trauma,” said Mr Mariranyika.
Repeated efforts to get a comment from Victory reps were fruitless as they were said to be locked up in a meeting.
