Zim police used as debt collectors

ZIMBABWE Police have moved into farming areas, forcing cotton farmers, most of whom are holding on to their crop following an impasse with buyers over low prices, to sell the 'white gold. yesterday.

Speaking before the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Lands, Executive Chairman of the Cotton Producers and Markerters Association of Zimbabwe Clemence Gondo said police were being used by ginners who wanted to collect their debts to force ignorant rural farmers to sell their yield.

"In many cases the ZRP is being used by contractors as debt collectors to take farmers to depots to sell their cotton," he said.

"This is worse than Hitler and we feel the police have become monsters instead of protecting people."

He said cotton farmers were facing challenges such as high input costs by manufacturers, inadequate supply of inputs by contractors, lack of competition and profiteering by ginners at the expense of farmers.

"There are no grading facilities at most buying points, except at Cottco and the statutory instrument does not provide room for independent buyers for seed cotton and is biased towards contractors without protecting farmers," Godo said.

"We want amendment of the statutory instrument in order to rescue farmers from unscrupulous practices."

The cotton farmers, who were represented by Zimbabwe Commercial Farmers Union vice president Mayideyi Maswi, also told the committee that the price being offered by ginners was too low.

"Farmers are saying the system is unfair as all cotton is graded at a pool grade of 'D' and the grading is not transparent as it is done secretly," Maswi said.

"The ginners want to pay 29 cents for grade D, 31 cents for grade C, 35 cents for grade B and 40 cents for grade A, yet cotton farmers want to be paid 45 cents for grade D, 47 cents for grade C, 51 cents for grade B and 55 cents for grade A."

Cotton Growers Association chairman Andrew Kanengoni said as a result more than 230 metric tonnes of cotton was lying unsold at farms due to the unfair pricing system.

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