Dairy farm auctioned

ONE of the country’s prime dairy farms — Esidakeni Estate — reportedly went under the hammer last month to service loans which its late owner failed to settle, a move that could see production commencing after years of inactivity.
The 1 000 hectare farm is located in the rich Nyamandlovu farming area in Matabeleland North’s Umguza District and was owned by Mr Eddie Warambwa, who died recently in South Africa where he had relocated to, abandoning the farm and turning it into a white elephant.

With over 500 dairy cows at its peak, 300 workers and a top milk supplier to Dairibord Zimbabwe, the farm was now a pale shadow of its former self.

At the height of the farm’s success, Mr Warambwa was voted Dairy Farmer of the year in 2001 as well as the Commercial Farmer of the year in 2004. Mr Warambwa also became the Dairy Farmers Association national vice-chairperson.

In the latest development, it is reported that the farm was attached by the High Court to help service debts that were left by Mr Warambwa under his company, Lybon Investment. This comes at a time when Government has set its sights on improving dairy farming in the country.

In an interview with Sunday News, the managing director of Bulawayo Real Estates — the company which handled the auction — Mr Michael Nekati, confirmed that they had been instructed by the Sheriff of the High Court to auction off the farm but they had failed to yield a taker hence they were now going to continue with the sale “via a private treaty”.

“That farm was owned by the late Mr Eddie Warambwa through his company, Lybon Investment. It is the company which was then taken to court to recover monies it owed, which thus resulted in the auction that was held on 3 August.

“We, however, failed to sell the farm as bidders failed to reach the forced sell value. So we are now going to sell it via what we term a private treaty where people who are interested can come and offer their bids privately and we will sell to the person who offers closest to the forced sale value,” said Mr Nekati.

He said they hoped to attract more prospective buyers, noting the size of the farm and its infrastructure.
“That farm is strategically located along the Nyamandlovu Aquifer, complete with the dairy infrastructure and eight boreholes so I am sure people will definitely come forward with more bids,” said Mr Nekati.

Prominent businessman Mr Raj Modi reportedly was the highest bidder at the initial auction, bidding $200 000 but the offer was rejected as it was below the asking price.

Contacted for comment, Mr Modi confirmed his bid saying the issue was now out of his hands.
“I was told that the $200 000 which I offered was not enough, I guess they have their own figure which they are expecting,” said Mr Modi.

Efforts to access the High Court file necessitating the sale were, however, fruitless with court officials alleging it was “missing”.

Commenting on the issue, Minister of State for Provincial Affairs in Matabeleland North Cde Cain Mathema said the selling of the farm could be a positive move as it would revive the farm and help improve the dairy farming sector in the region.

“It is unfortunate that some productive farms have been abandoned by their owners hence I believe if that farm is being sold to a new owner it is a positive move as maybe we will see some production happening there,” said Minister Mathema.

In November last year, Sunday News visited the farm. It resembled a graveyard, the large feedlot was rundown and showed that it was last used years back, the milking and dairy machines were rusting and falling, the tilling area was as clear as a soccer field and there was no sense of life at all.

The only feature that showed that this was once a farm were a couple of cows, which were enclosed in a small fenced paddock. The red-roofed farm house was also abandoned, doors locked and smashed window panes with a foul smell emanating through them.

During its prime, the farm was also famed for growing maize, wheat, vegetables, barley and paprika all under irrigation because of the farm’s location.