Over 100 tobacco farmers stormed the office of Chipata District Commissioner demanding for payments for the sale of tobacco to Alliance one-Zambia.
The farmers brought up several concerns, among them, delayed payments of their produce, council levy deduction and floor price.
And speaking to ZANIS in separate interviews in Chipata today, the aggrieved farmers said that Alliance One did not honour the agreement of paying 48 hours after the sale of the produce.
The farmers who were represented by Sam Mbewe and Masiye Jere, said the delay has caused misery among farmers as they had to board buses on pay forward basis hoping to pay after getting the money from one of the financial institutions since last month when they sold their produce.
The duo also said parents had failed to pay school fees because the tobacco company has not paid them their dues after selling the produce.
They said farmers traveled from as far as Chipangali where they were charged K30, 000 for transport to go Chipata town where they were to access the money.
They have since appealed to government to monitor the operations of companies if the poverty alleviation is to be achieved at house hold levels.
They claimed that tobacco vending was still an issue in the district, which happened with the full knowledge of the companies that purchase the commodity
And Addressing the farmers in the presence of the Company’s regional Accountant, Stern Juliasi, Chipata District Commissioner Moses Nyirenda said the company had already transferred over 500,000 United States Dollars towards the transaction adding that it could not fulfill the agreement to pay them after 48 hours because of money transaction.
Mr. Nyirenda stated that he was assured by the company management that farmers will start receiving their money from today until Friday this week.
Mr. Nyirenda told the farmers that the company was paying according to the floor price and to the exchange rate of that particular day the farmers sold their tobacco to the floors.
“The price displayed on the chart is the one to be paid to all farmers that brought tobacco on that particular day,” he said.
Mr. Nyirenda said issues of council levy raised by the farmers would be investigated and refunds would be paid if the issue turns to be true.
He said government has slashed the council levy adding that it would be unfair for Alliance one to enforce deductions towards farmers.
Mr. Nyirenda told the farmers that he would ensure that farmers start getting their money’s before the end of the day.
[ZANIS]
Whatever happened to cash on delivery?
This is what we should expect for the so called bumper harvest for 2010 maize season. Farmers will get paid after Banda is paid first. They get the left overs.