Source: TIMB hikes tobacco weighing, auction floor fees – NewsDay Zimbabwe March 27, 2019 Tobacco farmers follow proceedings at the official opening of this year’s marketing season in Harare last week BY FIDELITY MHLANGA THE Tobacco Industry Marketing Board (TIMB) has hiked weighing and auction floor charges, further eroding farmers’ earnings. The fee was raised […]
Tobacco farmers follow proceedings at the official opening of this year’s marketing season in Harare last week
BY FIDELITY MHLANGA
THE Tobacco Industry Marketing Board (TIMB) has hiked weighing and auction floor charges, further eroding farmers’ earnings.
The fee was raised from US$4,50 last season to US$7,70 per bale this season, much to the chagrin of farmers who felt that their earnings were being squeezed.
Apart from weighing and auction fees, other deductions incurred by farmers include tobacco levy (0,75%), TIMB stop order levies (0,8%) and the Ministry of Agriculture levy (USD$0,875c per kg )
“Subsequent to the circular of March 19, auction floors submitted a request for a further review of weighing and auction fees and of floor-clearing charges payable by buyers.
In the interim, the board has fixed weighing and auction fees at US$7,70 per bale and floor-clearing charge at $0,65 per bale. Both charges are payable in RTGS dollars at the prevailing interbank rate,” TIMB said in a circular dated March 22, 2019.
The circular had pegged weighing and auction floor fees at RTGS$12 per bale.
An industry source told NewsDay that the move by TIMB would affect the viability of tobacco farming, adding that pegging fees in US$ was in violation of Statutory Instrument 33 of 2019 which orders that prices should be charged in RTGS dollars.
The sources said TIMB had not consulted with stakeholders in coming up with a decision that ultimately affects growers’ livelihoods.
“Earlier in the week, TIMB announced auction floor charges at a fixed RTGS$12 per bale, later now to US$ 7,70 per bale. At a rate of 1:3 to the US$, this is a sudden increase to RTGS$22,50 per bale! The increase in auction charges will affect growers’ viability and would impact negatively on growers US$ retention entitlements,” said a source.
“TIMB has allowed auction floor charges to be US$-based payable in RTGS at ruling interbank rate on days of sales. This is in direct violation of SI 33 of 2019, where all local goods and services must be priced in RTGS$.”
Contacted for comment, TIMB spokeperson Isheunesu Moyo attributed the increase in auction fees to an upsurge in the cost structure at the auction floors.
“As regulators we consider the viability of all stakeholders. The cost structure of auction floors has gone up as a result of what we expect of them, such as those related to the new payment system, among others,” he said.
At a time tobacco sold via auction floors is estimated at 20%, fear abounds that the increase in charges could further reduce volumes, driving more growers to contract floors where charges remain low.
“Surely, this is penalising the growers wanting to sell on auction floors and push them to contract floors, where charges are lower,” an insider said.
Source: Mine workers, NEC in salary row – NewsDay Zimbabwe March 27, 2019 BY MTHANDAZO NYONI WORKERS under the National Mine Workers’ Union of Zimbabwe (NMWUZ) have accused the mining sector’s National Employment Council (NEC) of not timeously processing cases of underpayment and non-payment. NMWUZ members besieged NewsDay offices in Bulawayo yesterday, accusing the NEC […]
WORKERS under the National Mine Workers’ Union of Zimbabwe (NMWUZ) have accused the mining sector’s National Employment Council (NEC) of not timeously processing cases of underpayment and non-payment.
NMWUZ members besieged NewsDay offices in Bulawayo yesterday, accusing the NEC of failing to effectively discharge its mandate.
“We have a challenge with NEC mining which is failing to discharge its duty effectively. They are failing to release draft rulings on time. For instance, some of us have cases backdated 2010 that are yet to be processed. Surely, how can we work? We approached our union leaders and they told us that NEC was delaying everything..,” a worker, who requested anonymity, said.
Workers said cases which the NEC was struggling to process included underpayment and non-payment.
“Workers are suffering yet NEC is dillydallying. Some of them have died without getting their dues. Surprisingly, workers belonging to the Associated Mineworkers’ Union of Zimbabwe (AMWUZ) are getting their papers processed on time,” said another worker.
NMWUZ regional manager Abraham Kavalanjila confirmed that NEC mining was failing to discharge its duties effectively.
“We have a challenge now with our membership due to NEC mining’s failure to execute its duties on time. Workers are accusing us of not doing our job, yet it’s the NEC. We have tried to engage them on several occasions to no avail,” he said.
Another NMWUZ official, Shadreck Pelewelo, said justice delayed was justice denied.
“NEC was put in place to do cases expeditiously. It should not delay justice. Some people have died without getting justice. Some of the cases are small like non-payment and underpayment. Remember, justice delayed is justice denied,” he said.
Contacted for comment, NEC mining sector senior designated agent Jeffrey Dube said workers needed to be specific on which cases they were referring to.
“They need to be specific not be general so that we refer the case to the secretary general who is responsible for the Press. We also don’t know about favouritism they are talking about,” he said.
Acting NEC secretary-general for the mining sector, Archibald Tahwa, was said to be in a meeting when NewsDay sought a comment from him.
Source: Zimbabwe authorizes licence to first medical cannabis company, but drug remains controversial | The GrowthOp Although cannabis continues to be referred to as a “dangerous drug” in Zimbabwe legislation, it is estimated that the cannabis market could be worth over USD$7 billion by 2023 Zimbabwe has loosened its regulations surrounding the growing of medical […]
Although cannabis continues to be referred to as a “dangerous drug” in Zimbabwe legislation, it is estimated that the cannabis market could be worth over USD$7 billion by 2023
Zimbabwe has loosened its regulations surrounding the growing of medical cannabis, aka Mbanje or dagga. But the move is not without controversy and reveals the country’s complicated relationship with the drug.
Zimbabwe recently authorized licenses to grow cannabis for medical or research purposes. Previously, it was illegal to possess, consume or cultivate the plant, with violations leading to harsh penalties of up to 12 years in prison. Now, after many delays in the implementation of the regulations, licenced companies and individuals can grow the plant.
Earlier this month, the country approved the licence for its first medical cannabis company, Precision Cannabis Therapeutics Zimbabwe—located roughly 45 minutes outside Harare—at the cost of USD$46,000 (approx CAD $61,700).
Zimbabwe is the second country on the continent of Africa to have legalized the cultivation of cannabis, with Lesotho having begun to issue cultivation licences in 2017. The latter country has enjoyed major financial and economic benefits as a result of the legislation.
Zimbabwe is the second country on the continent of Africa to have legalized the cultivation of cannabis.FABRICE COFFRINI/AFP/Getty Images
Licences are to be renewed every five years, and permits authorized growers to grow, sell, possess, and transport cannabis flower and oil.
Candidates must disclose plans for quantity, sales, production period and the site, itself, upon applying for a licence. The government has stated that applicants who are deemed to be a risk to public health and safety will not be authorized to cultivate.
Some Zimbabweans are saying that one of the risks to public health and safety is the fact that growers must pay a significant fee in order to be permitted to grow cannabis commercially. Critics allege that the cost will block poor farmers from transitioning to legal growing in areas that already produce large amounts of illicit cannabis, such as Binga.
“If people are growing tobacco and are not paying any licence fees, then people should not pay $50,000 for producing cannabis because it will be exported for foreign currency,” Uzumba MP Simbaneuta Medarikawa told the Zimbabwe Mail.
The drug also faces social stigma. In a recent piece in Bulawayo 24 News, the author alleged that the new cultivation regs were “a move set to create an industry likely to lure a breed of high-risk, high-return investors,” and repeatedly expresses “concerns that this might result in an increase in cannabis use and associated harms,” such as psychosis.
Although cannabis continues to be referred to as a “dangerous drug” in Zimbabwe legislation, it is estimated that Zimbabwe’s cannabis market could be worth over USD$7 billion by 2023.
PRETORIA, South Africa – Regional leaders meeting in South Africa on Tuesday to express solidarity with Western Sahara, which is under Morrocan occupation, expressed concern after seven members states elected to attend a parallel summit […]
PRETORIA, South Africa – Regional leaders meeting in South Africa on Tuesday to express solidarity with Western Sahara, which is under Morrocan occupation, expressed concern after seven members states elected to attend a parallel summit [...]
Prominent Harare street preacher Apostle Talent Muzuva Chiwenga has resurfaced again with a blow aimed at President Emmerson Mnangagwa accusing him of failing to provide leadership during the Cyclone Idai tragedy that struck Manicaland in the past week…
Prominent Harare street preacher Apostle Talent Muzuva Chiwenga has resurfaced again with a blow aimed at President Emmerson Mnangagwa accusing him of failing to provide leadership during the Cyclone Idai tragedy that struck Manicaland in the past weeks. Chiwenga said President Mnangagwa is an emotionless person who failed to genuinely convey his sympathy and solidarity […]
