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Tawanda Mangoma in Chiredzi
The embattled Commercial Sugar Cane Farmers Association in Chiredzi has been hit by a mass exodus of members amid allegations that its newly-elected executive had failed to account for over $160 000. The funds allegedly vanished from the debt-ridden association after the new leadership led by Captain Admore Hwarare (Retired), who was elected into office towards the end of last year, assumed office.

The association had over 500 members, but the figure had reportedly gone down to about 200 over the past few months. Among the high profile members who have quit the association over the past few months is Chiredzi West Member of Parliament Cde Darlington Chiwa, who was also a member of the association’s new executive.

Cde Chirwa indicated his resignation in a letter dated March 7, 2018 that was addressed to Zanu-PF Masvingo provincial chair Cde Ezra Chadzamira.

He said he was resigning from the association due to financial embezzlement by the Hwarare-led executive. “It has become clear that the current chairman of the association cannot account for $160 000 (farmer’s levies) that was in the associations account when he took over,” reads part of the letter.

“As per procedure, the executive demanded a finances report which the chairman could not produce. It was also discovered that the chairman got access to the funds by changing signatories without the approval of the treasurer.

“However, when he was requested to account for some withdrawals, he insisted that he cannot work with the treasurer and proposed to fire him for not co-operating.”

Cde Chiwa said he was quitting the association in protest over the alleged fleecing of “innocent” cane farmers by the new executive.

“Farmers are very important stakeholders of the party (Zanu-PF) and Government and as an honourable Member of Parliament, it becomes difficult for me to continue sitting in a meeting that short-changes them especially knowing that the new dispensation does not accept corruption,” Cde Chiwa further stated in his letter.

The association’s former secretary-general Mr Roy Bhila yesterday confirmed the mass withdrawal of members over alleged financial impropriety among other complaints.

Mr Bhila claimed that the association had been “captured” by individuals without the interests of the farmers at heart.

“The group of individuals who have captured the association are not farmers, they are only there to abuse levies paid by members no wonder why most farmers are pulling out of the association,” he said.

He charged that the new executive also recently embarked on an internal audit, but never bothered to reveal the results while also accusing the same executive of arbitrary expulsion of constitutionally-elected executive members.

Mr Bhila also alleged that some members were resigning from the association in protest over allegations of dabbling in politics to the detriment of the welfare of cane farmers in the Lowveld.

However, Captain Hwarare (Rtd) refuted allegations levelled against him and the CSFAZ executive saying the association only subscribed to the policies of Zanu-PF.

“Our executive has a strong composition of former and current members of the security agencies and at no time did we ever discuss political issues other than those aimed at supporting the sitting Government.

“We are a proud Zanu-PF aligned association and we don’t even hide that we stand ready to bankroll the Zanu-PF 2018 election campaign as beneficiaries of the ruling party’s policy of land redistribution,’’ he said.

Captain Hwarare (Retired) also rubbished allegations of financial embezzlement and blamed the association’s previous executive of siphoning over $320 000 from the association’s coffers. He promised that the culprits would have their day in court.

The number of associations representing cane farmers in the Lowveld has been multiplying over the past few years as disgruntled members regularly change associations mainly over allegations of financial abuse.