Vimbai Mukandabvute, 54, sells her Belgian hares for $4, much less than cuts of beef, chicken, mutton and pork charged by supermarkets and local stores.
She started the business in the district’s rural village of Chirega. Earlier this year her son…, and the project is already putting dollars in her pocket.
“A friend of mine tipped me off that there is brisk business in raising hares since so many people now have to buy items that are generally cheaper. A fully grown hare can weigh more than 2kgs, which I sell for $5. In supermarkets and stores, this amount of money would buy less than 1kg of other meat. I took my friend's advice and I am now making money,” she said.
Her profits come from other by-products, although meat is the major source. “Many people support me, university students purchase hare urine that they use in laboratory experiments. Older people purchase hare paws, which they believe are good luck charms. Farmers purchase hare manure and fishermen use the manure for worm-growing,” she said.
An interesting aspect of this grandmother’s business is that she keeps it going on a shoe-string budget. The hares number over 55 and are kept in the back yard inside cages built from inexpensive materials like dagga and grass. Since hares prefer semi–darkness, there are only three small windows, cut high in the walls, above the four-foot level, on each of the four six meters long cages. The hares are fed on peels of ground nuts, cabbage and vegetable leaves and they are fast breeders.
“Hares can be raised in any location. This means that any women can venture into a breeding programme anywhere. It’s a simple but profitable business and I urge all women to embrace it so that they can be liberated from the traps of patriarchy. If a woman is economically empowered, she can afford to challenge men on issues that affect women,” she said.
A customer who had driven all the way from Zvishavane town searching for the “cheap meat” at Mukandabvute’s homestead, told The Zimbabwean that the woman had defied all odds.
“Rarely do you find such innovative elderly women. Her produce is well fed, she produces really good meat for sumptuous meals. The hares are also affordable,” said Sherman Madzivanyika.
A young woman in the village, Primrose Gumbo, said that this grandmother has become an inspiration to several other villagers who have since joined her line of business.
“We now have several other women in this area who are also raising hares. They were all inspired by Gogo Mukandabvute,” she said.
A survey carried out by this reporter in the area revealed that this grandmother, who takes care of her grandson, Chamu, has become an example for many. Butchery operators and meat centres in surrounding areas are now also part of her regular clients.
Rodhie Mushayavanhu, a businessman in the area, praised her saying, “At her age, this woman is doing very well. She has shown that if women are given the opportunity, they can thrive in business aas well as invest in ideas that many would never think of,” he said.
Post published in: Gender Equality