LOCAL milk processor Dendairy Limited has awarded its over 2000 workers a 10 percent "hardship allowance" to cushion them from rising prices of basic commodities and services in the meanwhile.

In a Wednesday memo employees, the company management said they hope the dire economic situation in the country shall normalise sooner rather than later.

"Due to the prevailing economic hardships in the country, the company will pay a 10% hardship allowance on the basic salary to all Dendairy employees," said company finance and administration manager P Valentine in a letter that was co-signed by the workers committee chairperson.

"However, once the economic situation improves, the allowance will fall away or be discontinued."

Zimbabwe's fresh economic crisis has been linked to Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube's controversial Transitional Stabilisation Programme (TSP) whose effects have seen prices of basic commodities sky-rocket beyond the means of the majority.

Ncube insists the tough measures were aimed at stabilising a sickly economy that has taken more than its fair share of hard knocks in the past two decades.

The Treasury chief has also stuck to his guns as locals have condemned him for introducing a 2 percent tax on all electronic transfers.

But Dendairy could be first among local firms to realise the hardships that workers are going through.

"Let's all play ball and put our best foot forward in our respective work areas.

"We are optimistic the situation will be back to normalcy very soon," said the company to its workforce.

The company was opened in 2004 to process sour milk mainly for Redcliff and Kwekwe residents but now has grown to supply long-life milk countrywide.

It gets its raw milk supplies from dairy farmers in Gweru and Kwekwe.

The company exports to Zambia, Malawi and Mozambique and produces a variety of milk products.