After Prisca Mutembwa’s three-month probationary period ended, Cottco terminated her contract, according to people familiar with the situation.

It is said that the Cottco board declined to award Mrs. Mutembwa a definitive contract due to her subpar performance.

She succeeded Mr. Pious Manamike, who resigned in December 2022, after he was appointed in October of last year.

Mr. Munyaradzi Chikasha, the head of operations, served as the interim senior officer before Mrs. Mutembwa was appointed.

“The board was generally unhappy with her performance and a tough decision had to be made not to give her a firm contract…her contract was terminated on December 31 (2023),” said one source who declined to be named because they were not allowed to talk to the press.

The board is yet to appoint an acting CEO following Mrs Mutembwa’s departure, another source said.

Cottco chairman Mr Sifelani Jabangwe had earlier confirmed that Mrs Mutembwa’s contract had been terminated but later told this publication in a text message that he had no comment on the matter.

“It is true that we terminated the contract but let me prepare a proper comment using the appropriate language,” he said before making a U-turn later saying “no comment on that issue.”

Previously, Mrs Mutembwa worked for BOC Gases Zimbabwe, BAT Zimbabwe Holdings Limited, ZABG and Cargill Zimbabwe.

She also worked for British Rail and Unicef in Europe and sat on several boards as a non-executive member.
She also worked as CEO at Cargill Zimbabwe for six years before relocating to the United States where she obtained a master’s degree in cybersecurity.

Cottco is the country’s largest cotton financier through the Presidential Free Cotton Inputs Scheme. The company supports over 200 000 households with free inputs including seed, fertlizers and herbicides.

It also assists farmers with free tillage services and agronomy support. At peak, Zimbabwe produced 351 000 tonnes of cotton in the 2010/11 season and the Government has since set a target to raise production to 300 000 tonnes by 2025.

In a bid to revolutionise the cotton industry and boost national productivity, Cottco and Quton Seed Company are intensifying the training of local farmers on cotton seed hybrid production.

The hybrids have the potential to deliver a staggering 70 percent increase in yield compared to traditional open-pollinated varieties (OPVs), currently the mainstay of Zimbabwean cotton farmers.

The initiative aims to address several pressing concerns.

By developing its own hybrids, Zimbabwe can achieve greater self-sufficiency and stability in the cotton sector.

The hybrid seeds boast superior drought tolerance and disease resistance, crucial qualities in a country grappling with the effects of climate change.

This translates to improved yield consistency and reduced risk of crop failure for farmers, enhancing their livelihoods and contributing to overall agricultural resilience.

The initiative extends beyond seed development.

Recognising the need for knowledge transfer, Quton has launched a comprehensive program to train farmers on the cultivation and management practices specific to hybrid cotton varieties.

This ensures farmers are equipped with the necessary skills to maximise their yield and contribute to the success of the program.

The potential benefits of this initiative are significant. Increased productivity can lead to a revitalized cotton industry, generating more income for farmers, boosting exports, and creating jobs throughout the value chain.

Furthermore, reduced reliance on imported seeds will free up valuable foreign currency reserves for other critical investments.

With its focus on innovation, self-sufficiency, and farmer empowerment, the development of cotton hybrid seeds represents a promising step forward for Zimbabwe’s agricultural sector.

The use of hybrid seeds requires half the amount of seed compared to open-pollinated varieties.

A farmer will only need four kilogram of hybrid seed to plant a one-hectare field, significantly reducing the seed cost and making the overall process more efficient. This translates to substantial savings for farmers, further enhancing the economic benefits of this initiative.

Zimbabwe mainly uses open-pollinated varieties but indications are that production could go up to as much as 600 000 tonnes with the use of hybrids seeds.

Experts are urging the Government to ramp up the use of hybrid seeds to boost productivity and cut the risk of crop failures as OPVs are getting more susceptible to diseases