Workers of a sugar company that closed down in 1994 on Monday told Mozambican President Armando Guebuza that they have been waiting for their redundancy pay since 1994.The workers took the opportunity of Guebuza’s visit to Buzi district, in the central province of Sofala, as part of his “open and inclusive presidency”, to complain that they were thrown out of work 17 years ago and have never received the compensation to which they were entitled.The Buzi Company was not officially declared bankrupt. It simply closed its doors and told its work force of 2,592 to “await new instructions”, which were never forthcoming.“Since then we were never called back to work, and much less did we receive any compensation”, said one of the former Buzi Company workers, Bernardo Mapasse, at a rally addressed by Guebuza. “We have presented the problem to many official bodies, including the Assembly of the Republic (the Mozambican parliament), but nothing happens”.All the assets of the Buzi Company were purchased in 2004 by a successful sugar company, Maragra, in which the main shareholder is the South African concern Illovo.
The relaunched Buzi Company started producing ethyl alcohol in 2006, and plans to resume sugar production in 2014. Currently it grows cane on a fairly small area, which is sold to the functioning sugar mill in Marromeu district. The current Buzi Company activities only employ a small number of people.At the rally, Buzi residents also asked for more wells to be drilled, so that they would not be obliged to take their water from the crocodile-infested Buzi river. They called for grater efficiency in the local health centre, and requested a mobile phone mast in Bandua locality. The also complained that corrupt officials extort money from people who request a new identity card.Guebuza declared that many of the problems the country faces derive from poverty. “We must continue fighting against poverty because it prevents Mozambicans from fully exploiting the resources we possess”, he said.“Here we have the sugar mill that isn’t working. Here we have the Buzi river and crossing it is a problem”, added Guebuza. He was referring to the difficulties faced by the sole ferry over the river. Guebuza said he could give no immediate answer to the questions raised at the rally, but he promised that they would all receive attention from the government.
The relaunched Buzi Company started producing ethyl alcohol in 2006, and plans to resume sugar production in 2014. Currently it grows cane on a fairly small area, which is sold to the functioning sugar mill in Marromeu district. The current Buzi Company activities only employ a small number of people.At the rally, Buzi residents also asked for more wells to be drilled, so that they would not be obliged to take their water from the crocodile-infested Buzi river. They called for grater efficiency in the local health centre, and requested a mobile phone mast in Bandua locality. The also complained that corrupt officials extort money from people who request a new identity card.Guebuza declared that many of the problems the country faces derive from poverty. “We must continue fighting against poverty because it prevents Mozambicans from fully exploiting the resources we possess”, he said.“Here we have the sugar mill that isn’t working. Here we have the Buzi river and crossing it is a problem”, added Guebuza. He was referring to the difficulties faced by the sole ferry over the river. Guebuza said he could give no immediate answer to the questions raised at the rally, but he promised that they would all receive attention from the government.
0 comentários:
Post a Comment