Maravi

TAZ owes Chipata farmers millions

TAZ owes Chipata farmers millions
By Joan Chirwa
Wednesday August 15, 2007 [04:00]

SEVERAL tobacco farmers in Chipata district are owed millions of kwacha by the Tobacco Association of Zambia (TAZ) for the commodity supplied during this marketing season. TAZ has been handling the payment of tobacco farmers on behalf of the buyers in the country, a move which most farmers opposed from the start.

“There are a lot of farmers that have not been paid their money by TAZ, and for example, I am owed K40 million. Payments have always been delayed and we wonder why TAZ still wants to keep on handling money on behalf of the buyers,” said one of the farmers who refused to be named.
“Most of us were so much against the idea of having TAZ to handle our payments this season because we anticipated such a situation. How can agriculture flourish in this country if farmers are not paid in time?”

Late last week, councillors in Chipata passed a vote of no confidence in TAZ, saying the association did not benefit tobacco farmers in the district.

During a full council meeting last Friday, the councillors said TAZ should therefore stop operating in the area following farmers’ complaints that the association was not performing to their expectation. It was noted that farmers in the province do not want TAZ to be in charge of tobacco marketing, but that a local association should instead take over the responsibility.

And Tobacco Board of Zambia (TBZ) chairman Jonathan Chizumi said a meeting would be convened tomorrow among TBZ officials, TAZ representatives and the Eastern Fodya Association to discuss numerous problems that have marred the tobacco industry on the province.

“I am aware of what is happening and I am currently having a meeting on Thursday with TAZ, TBZ and representatives of the Eastern Fodya Association so that we can discuss a lot of issues regarding the tobacco industry in the province,” Chizumi said. “For now, I cannot say much until the meeting is held on Thursday.”

When contacted, TAZ president Albert Van Wyk said he was not fully aware of the problems surrounding the association in Chipata, and said full details could only be given after the meeting tomorrow.

Labels: CHIPATA, TBZ, TOBACCO

posted by MrK @ 5:15 AM