ZESA prepaid system create confusion

The Zimbabwe Commercial Farmers Union (ZCFU) says the prepaid system introduced by ZESA has created confusion that has caused farmers to be sceptical about planting wheat in Umguza district this season.


The new billing system, which the farmers have not yet understood, has been launched in the district at a time most of them are trying to recover from the losses they incurred as a result of the drought experienced last year.

ZCFU spokesperson for Matabeleland North province, Mrs Shandu Gumede said it will be difficult for a high water demanding crop like wheat to be produced under circumstances where there are constant power cuts due to non-payment of bills, adding that less than 10 farmers in the province have expressed interest in producing wheat this season.

“The prepaid system that has just been introduced has made farmers very sceptical because what’s happening is that, most of them half way through irrigation, their allocation or units diminish so they are still trying to understand their budget, they are still trying to understand how it works,” Gumede said.

Matabeleland North Provincial Agritex Officer Dumisani Nyoni said farmers are yet to gain confidence in the new system following an incident that occurred at Redwood Communal Irrigation Scheme where 10 hectares of wheat nearing maturity had to be written off due to power cuts.

“Farmers are now sceptical as they fear that if they fail to make payments they will be switched off power, and those that have been connected they are yet to develop confidence and full knowledge on how much power they will need to support the wheat crop,” said Mr Nyoni.

During peak seasons, Matabeleland North province utilises 1 000 hectares for wheat production, but production levels have decreased with less than 200 hectares being put under the crop in the past two years.

Wheat also requires 500 kilogrammes of ammonium nitrate fertiliser and another 500 kilogramme of Compound D per hectare.

The farmers in Umguza have also had water challenges following disconnections by ZINWA for non-payment of bills.
ZBC