By Regerai Marwezu

MASVINGO – Striking workers at Hippo Valley and Triangle sugar estates in the southern Chiredzi district on Tuesday set on fire 45 hectares of sugar cane demanding a 600 percent rise on their salaries. 

The workers last Thursday set on fire another 52 hectares of sugar cane after management refused to award them the salary hike which would see the lowest paid worker earning Z$300 000, up from the Z$50 000 they are currently taking home. 

Sources at Hippo Valley and Triangle say a group of the striking workers went and set ablaze the sugar cane fields at around 3am on Tuesday. 

The workers, led by Admore Hwarare of the government-linked Zimbabwe Federation of Trade Unions (ZFTU), had given management until Monday to resolve the dispute. 

“It is true that the workers set ablaze the sugar cane. They want their salaries increased but it appears management is reluctant to award them any meaningful increments,” said Hwarare. 

Hwarare denied that he had instigated the workers to burn the sugar cane crop only saying workers had a right to withdraw their labour event of a deadlock with their employers. 

“No one instigated workers to engage in this act,” said Hwarare. 

Hippo Valley managing director Sydney Mutsambiwa said the sugar cane crop was a complete write off. 

“The burnt crop is a complete write off. We are very worried over the latest development,” said Mutsambiwa. 

Police in Chiredzi said they were investigating the arson attack. 

“This is an act of arson and we are investigating the whole issue so that those responsible are brought to book,” said Masvingo provincial spokesman Inspector Phibion Nyambo. 

Zimbabwe has been facing a severe shortage of sugar over the past few years after new black farmers allocated land under President Mugabe’s land reforms failed to maintain production on former white farms. 

The torching of the sugar estates will likely worsen the shortage of sugar across the country. - ZimOnline