By Mohau Khupa
I wrote an article about the effects of asking and not asking the right questions because I had connected my suffering and that of my friends with not asking the right questions. As I write this one, we continue to suffer, against our better judgment, when there’s an alternative to ‘not asking the right questions’. So glad you’re reading this.
The effects of not asking the right questions can be dire. I was reading a news article titled, ‘cannabis firm cheating us – villagers’, and I made a few notes. The residents of Ha Letsoela community in Berea were discontent with M200 rent for their crop fields, that they were getting per month from Highlands Pure, a cannabis firm operating in Ha Letsoela. They had signed off on a 60-year contract set to be reviewed in every 10 years, that they did not even understand, allegedly. They were notably regretful of signing contracts which bound them to lease their fields for anything less than M5 000 monthly.
They had settled for M4 800 less than they preferred. For somebody who studied contract law and understood the rigor of written contracts, I could easily tell, that, unpleasant as their situation was, they were just going to have to grin and bear it for the next eight years. As for some field owners who asked a million-dollar-question, ‘how much are we talking about here?’ and got an offer of M200, they knew better than to settle for so less. Those are a few who probably asked how much land for that much and on what time basis.
One particular sentiment from the lessors thrilled me. According to the community representative, they had sworn to continue with their claims even it meant one of them would die trying. I realised then, that the effects of not asking the right questions can be fatal.
In a slightly different case, the community members of Marakabei in Thaba-Tseka are not happy with the heavy-handed exploitation by MG Health medical cannabis production company, which is only paying them M84 per month, per hectare of land leased. That is subjectively way less than they would make on commercial farming. According to the recent report of one local media house, the lessors are complaining about MG Health, accusing it of cruel exploitation – a move well within sense. However they can only do so much – a contract is a contract; especially when it’s signed by all in agreement. If I’m being empathic, presented with the same offer myself I would want to know how much the offeror makes off a hectare anyway, before I could decide to get into a contract or pass. One of the perks of being the owner is you can be that forward.
