“Using the under-utilised council farm, the bank has introduced a sponsorship scheme to provide capital to farmers. The famers will provide cattle as collateral for the loan. The bank will keep the cattle at the farm, paying rent of $5,000 a month, until debtors pay back,” said Nyandoro.
During the Zanu (PF)-led council term of office, farm produce benefited mostly individual city fathers and management, at the expense of ratepayers and council employees. Cattle at the farm would be slaughtered and the meat shared by a few individuals.
At the height of farm invasions, a large number of farm cattle were allegedly shared among some council staff, councillors and top Zanu (PF) officials. The beasts were reportedly clandestinely relocated to the officials’ new farms.