Work-for-food schemes used to bust sanctions

WORK-FOR-FOOD programmes implemented by many employers in Zimbabwe’s agricultural sector are working wonders as a sanction-busting move, the Zimbabwe Guardian has learnt.

Farmer in the Hippo Valley area in Chiredzi where newly-resettled farmers in the sugar cane industry have devised strategies that will help them sustain their lives without having to wait for salaries that are being eroded by hyperinflation.

Many cane cutters say they would rather have food bought from other farms by their employers, than receive money which is not very helpful for them. The newly resettled farmers go as far as South Africa and bring in bales of food and other necessities which they use as payment to their workers.

“I’m better off receiving food than worthless dollars,” said a farm worker, Martin Fedduca who spoke to the Zimbabwe Guardian. “What we need is food to survive and clothes to wear. The rest of the things do not matter for now. We do not live on luxuries. When I left Mozambique in the late 70s I wanted to provide a livelihood for my family and this is what I am still doing today”

A farmer who spoke anonymously to this reporter said: “We all know the problems our government is going through because of the sanctions, we have to devise strategies to circumvent the effects of the sanctions.”

He added: “The situation we find ourselves in today will come to an end one day. In the meantime, this is the best we can do to survive and maintain the dignity of our workers.”

The farm workers had mixed feelings about the state of the economy. Some were disgruntled and said they were better off under the employment of the white commercial farmers. “I am not happy at all. I used to send my kids to school, but today things have changed very much. The government has let us down,” said one farm worker.

Another added: “We support the recent efforts of the government in trying to help our chefs (bosses). We hope these efforts we have seen recently were not intended to just win votes and abandon us. Government should follow-up on its promises.”

The workers interviewed by the Zimbabawe Guardian said they had reached agreements with their union, the Zimbabwe Sugar Milling Industry Workers' Union to receive food for work and were happy with the arrangement for now.