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SUGARCANE GROWERS WORRIED PROPOSED TARIFF HIKE WILL DESTROY THEIR BUSINESSES

By Nokuzola Thwala | 2024-11-23

Eswatini Sugar Cane growers have poked holes at the proposed electricity tariff hike noting that if granted, it will ‘kill’ and finish off their business as they are already operating under harsh conditions.

They said it is unfair for EEC to expect them to pay more when they are already struggling.
He stated that they are even paying for facility charges, which is cumbersome financially during their dry-off season.

This was during Eswatini Electricity Company (EEC) tariff hike public hearing, hosted by the Eswatini Energy Regulatory Authority (ESERA) at the Riverside Hotel in Big Bend yesterday.
Mkhulu Dlamini said if EEC continues at their current rate, there will be no sugarcane farmers in the country.

He said he started growing sugarcane in 2016, and he has never had profits.
He said when they started farming, they thought that their lives would change for the better, but that has not been the case. “Instead, EEC and ESERA are destroying our businesses.

No one will be willing to grow sugarcane anymore because of the exorbitant charges. Can you at least try to meet to review the percentages because in the next few years, you will want another increase and where will these business be?” he wondered.

Pleased
Mayenziwe Dlamini pleaded with EEC to consider their fate as farmers. He said they have been forced to use electricity and even if they wanted to go back to primitive ways, they cannot because trees have been cut.

She added that even during the peak periods, they need electricity because it is where they need it greatly. He said from 5pm to 9pm, their irrigation system need the water pumped through electricity the most.

“We really plead with EEC to consider us, we need the electricity but we do not have the money.
We really plead with EEC, before we received 44 units for E100, but under this new proposal, we are likely to get 33 units and next year they will be 25. This means that eventually we will purchase 10 units for E100.

“We need EEC and they need us, let us work together.
We rely on government to release a gazette before any decision making, at times, the increase is E5 what can one do.

At times the electricity bill shoots to E500 000, as it is, we are barely surviving and you want to increase prices. we will not be able to buy electricity and we cannot afford this hike,” she said.

Meanwhile, Nonhlanhla Tsabedze pleaded with ESERA to engage them separately as sugar cane farmers, to audit their financials, see the capital, revenues and if they can really afford the increase.

Nonhlanhla said currently, a farmer who has profited much receives about E40 000, translating to over E3 000 each month. ESERA General Manager Simphiwe Khumalo said they are happy that customers are willing to engage them further, and promised that they will make time so that they have an impact.

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