ild the national herd and make available meat which is now unavailable.
8.8.2007
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Desperate government force villagers to sale cattle of half price to bankruptcybroke CSC (08-08-07)
MANICA BRIDGE; THE government is allegedly forcing people here to sale their cattle to the state run Cold Storage Commission, CSC at deflated prices in a desperate bid to bu
According to villagers here government officials have instructed them to only remain with a maximum of eight beasts a household.
The move will see hundreds of households loosing their cattle through forced sales.
Bernard Muchero of Manica Bridge, representing other affected villagers told CAJ News on Wednesday (yesterday) that their village headman and of surrounding villages briefed them at a recent meeting that had to sale their “extra” cattle to the CSC.
Most households have an average of 50-to-100 beasts.
He said they were told the CSC would buy the beasts at Z$12m irregardless of the size.
“It is disgusting to realize that we are being forced to sale our cattle. It is against our wish to do so as there is no reason to sale our herd at a price which is below the value of the beast,” he complained.
Muchero said the villagers would resist such a move by the government are likely to contest it in a court of law.
“We are saying it is irrational and we will take the matter up with the courts and see justice is done,” he said.
The villager added that at the meeting each villager was asked to register the number of beasts he has under his name and the list remained with their headmen.
While there was no immediate comment from government officials on the matter, CAJ News is reliably informed the government, desperate to rebuild its depleted national herd is finding it difficult to convince cattle owners to freely sale to private abateurs of their choice and to butchery owners who offer higher prices.
The practice is synonymous with that of the Rhodesian era where blacks were forced to part with their cattle ostensibly for the reason that there was not enough grazing land- CAJ News.
Post published in: News