CSC broke

He said they were hopeful next year would bring better fortunes for the company for it to start implementing the restocking programme.

“We received 13 000 applications from farmers, but we have not processed a single one of them because we do not have funds.

“Our hope is that in 2013 things will be better and we can start processing the applications,” said Mr Chinogaramombe.

He, however, said the company had started another programme whereby farmers would take their cattle to CSC for slaughter and automatically become members.

Farmers welcomed the development, saying it would empower them as they would now become CSC shareholders.

Mr Chinogaramombe said CSC had presented a proposal to ZFU and was waiting for the farmers’ union to accede to the idea to fully implement the programme.

“We are here today to present a proposal to ZFU because that is where 90 percent of the country’s cattle are.

“We have tried to talk to the Government, but it looks like funds are not coming our way, hence the need to venture into partnership with farmers,” said Mr Chinogaramombe.

He said they had borrowed the idea from countries like Namibia where the Government had introduced a system whereby farmers take their cattle for slaughter and become shareholders in the slaughter company.

“Other countries have come up with models where a farmer brings a beast and becomes a member and benefits pro rata.

“We have submitted our proposals to Mr Hungwe (ZFU president) and we look forward to working with you.

“We need to grow as a company because without your support we cannot go anywhere.

“With the state of things, we cannot continue relying on the Government and we should come up with our own strategies to grow as a business and also boost the national herd,” said Mr Chinogaramombe.

ZFU executive director Mr Paul Zakariya said the development was welcome and encouraged farmers to grab the opportunity.

“This is a good proposal where as farmers we can be shareholders. Let us grab the opportunity,” he said.

Mr Elijah Sibanda, a ZFU member from Gokwe, said the scheme would bring relief to farmers who were being fleeced by unscrupulous cattle buyers.

“CSC used to come to buy cattle but now we are just selling to unscrupulous buyers who are cheating us.

“Maybe this will help save our cattle,” he said.

Some farmers said they had been fleeced before and would be cautious of any scheme.

“There was a time when farmers were made to buy shares through cotton inputs and we lost everything we had invested.

“What assurance is there that the same thing will not happen?” said one of the farmers who refused to be named.

Meanwhile, Mr Chinogaramombe said the CSC had embarked on a heifer project which started in July.

“We have started in Mangwe, Bulilima and Matobo districts in Matabeleland South and Nyamandlovu in Matabeleland North,” said Mr Chinogaramombe.

He said plans were underway to spread the programme to other parts of the country.