Zimbabwe: ZELA Situational update in the agricultural sector

…Marketing and distribution of fresh farm produce was severely impacted by COVID-19, in the first week of the national lockdown, fresh farm produce markets like Mbare Musika in Harare^[1] were completely closed. During this period, farmers were stranded with their produce especially perishables such as green vegetables and tomatoes. Law enforcement agents raided the Sakubva Market in Mutare^[2], and burnt all the produce that was confiscated from the raid. This left many farmers and vendors aggravated as most of their produce was lost to the raid, three tonnes worth of vegetables were lost in the raid. The produce raided belonged to more than 300 farmers^[3] and it included tomatoes, cabbages, green vegetables, lemons to mention a few^[4]. On the 7^th of April the government announced that it was re-opening all fresh farm produce markets subject to availability of preventative measures to stop the spread of COVID-19. There is no evidence of concerted efforts by government to enforce the preventative measures at the fresh farm produce markets including provision of Personal Protective Equipment to vendors. Local municipalities have been trying to control the movements at these designated markets. In Matobo, movement is controlled with farmers are allowed to register with the rural district council to go to the market and sell their produce.

…Loss of jobs:The limited access to markets has resulted in massive loss of jobs for farmworkers, with women being mostly affected.The limited access to markets and the limited availability of disposal income has also seen 150 employees being placed on indefinite unpaid leave at RD flower farm^[5]. Fixed term contracts in a number of farms have also not been renewed harsh operating conditions being cited. Women form the bulk of workers on most farms especially at the lower level paying jobs along most value chains. The casualization of labour in the agriculture sector means that there no wages accruing and that the burden of limited access to markets had been weighing heavily on farm workers. The unequal distribution of the huge benefits of the agriculture sector being enjoyed by farmers when  it is thriving and how the brunt of devastating consequences of the pandemic falls on the workers points to a need to revisit employee benefit schemes in agriculture sector so they get a fair share.Although some farms have provided mealie meal and cooking oil to the workers to cushion some of the impacts of layoffs, a more longer-term sustainable solution will be required. Household food security for farmworkers remains a huge concern. Women will continue to be forefront of confronting increasing hunger in their homes as they are primary providers of food, despite being laid off on the farms.

…Progressive Agriculture and Allied Industries Workers Union of Zimbabwe General Secretary Raymond Sixpence highlighted that farm owners were more worried about production on farms while exposing workers to the COVID-19 pandemic. He mentioned that workers are being forced to go to work without adequate protective clothing. The COVID-19 has brought to light the long outstanding issue of provision of protective clothing for farm workers as most had always complained lack of protective clothing in the form of overalls and safety shoes. Efforts have been made by Commercial Farmers Union to provide PPE on some farms but workers on small holder farms remain at risk.