Child labour keeps sugar industry afloat

Zimbabwe is no exception. Its sugar cane industry in Chiredzi in the south eastern part of the country relies mostly on child labour for survival.

Children are employed as farm labourers on huge sugar cane plantations although the labour laws explicitly forbid this. The violent and corrupt land “reform” programme saw politicians and senior civil servants becoming owners of huge farms and in most cases they are using children as sources of cheap labour.

Main culprits

Government officials, including cabinet ministers, have been found to be the main culprits in terms of using children as part of their labour force on their acquired sugar cane farms. The authorities are turning a blind eye to the plight of young boys and girls who are now the main source of labour.

Girls are employed mainly as irrigators of the crop while boys are turned into cane cutters. The lives and general standards of living of hundreds of children, mostly school drop outs in the sugar cane growing community of Chiredzi, continue to deteriorate over the years with most of them living in abject poverty. They have nowhere to turn to for help as the economic situation deteriorates daily.

Judith Mususa, 14, dropped out of school at the age of 12 when her both parents died. Her elder brothers migrated to South Africa, long back leaving her with no option but to work in the sugar plantations for survival.

Nightmare

Lot one of Allandale plantation is what Mususa calls home today. Her dreams of becoming a medical doctor have turned into a nightmare as irrigating sugar cane crops is now her profession. She is paid less than $100 a month by the serving cabinet minister who grabbed the plantation.

“My father used to work here when this farm was owned by a white farmer and he used to tell me that workers were getting decent wages in addition to food,” said Mususa.

“I had nowhere to go when my brothers left. Sometimes we go for months without pay and we are told that all those who are not happy with the working conditions are free to leave and because I have no other source of income I remain glued to this farm,” she said.

Cane cutters working for black farmers in the Lowveld are getting a raw deal. Despite earning minimal wages they are now being ordered to provide their own protective clothing while at work.

Zimbabwe Sugar Milling Workers Union official Mark Shoko says the plight of farm workers especially children should be addressed as a matter of urgency. He said workers unions were tired of labour cases being brought before them for arbitration as black farmers continued to exploit children and workers on a daily basis. “The government should come up with legislation that protects farm workers as blacks continue to violate labour laws, “he said.

Reluctant

Labour expert Alois Murowa said the government was reluctant to come up with legislation protecting farm workers because most of those in government now are the ones who are responsible for exploiting young children and farm labourers in general.

“You have to realize that most of the farms are now in the hands of blacks and most of them are in government,” he said.

Simon Munyongwa a human rights activist said all those violating labour laws by engaging young children as workers should be prosecuted irrespective of their standing in society. “We have to ensure that human rights are respected especially those of children,” he said.

But Sugar Cane Growers Association secretary general Admore Hwarare said it was better to employ young children than to let them live in the streets.

“As an association we condemn child labour but what we are saying is that given the current situation in the country it is better to employ those children and, where situations permit, even allow them to further their education,” he said. “It is better for that youngster to have a place to live and earn income than just to let them live in the streets and later turn into criminal activities.”