NEW: Mixed reactions to ban on household cattle sales

Emilia Zindi

Correspondent

THE Government’s recent regulations on livestock sales, which allow individuals to only sell their animals through ward-based business units, has been met with mixed reactions from farmers, who feel there was need for wider consultations before the pronouncement.

Recentky, the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development said the ban on cattle sales at household level was meant to ensure buyers did not short-change farmers during the current drought season.

A livestock expert, Mr Thomas Chikuni, said village cattle sales were depriving the Government of tax.

“I think this has to do with accounting for every beast sold so that we all pay tax. It is a noble idea,” he said.

However, Mr Kudzai Sikweche, a farmer from Chegutu, said the new measures will affect farmers when they need to urgently sell their cattle.

“The urge to sell normally arises from immediate cash needs. Just like any other business, the one holding stock should exercise rationality on prices to part with their stock.”

Banket farmer Mr Onismo Makuti added: “No one is helping us take care of our livestock. We did not get any loans from banks to buy our livestock. So, I don’t think it’s fair to ban such sales because cattle are our source of income in times of need.”

But Chegutu East Ward 23 councillor Ngoni Mufudza commended the new measures, saying they will combat cattle rustling.

“It is a noble idea because every animal shall be accounted for. Village cattle sales were contributing to increased cattle rustling and corruption in the clearance of cattle.”

Former Zimbabwe Indigenous Commercial Farmers Union president Mr Wonder Chabikwa said it appeared the Government had reintroduced a model that proved to be efficient in the past.

“We used to have communal areas cattle auctions in all districts, monthly. The biggest player was the Cold Storage Commission as a buyer, with auctioneers conducting these sales.

“The Government’s meat and livestock graders also had the responsibility to weigh the cattle and provide the grade and weights. Maybe this is the idea that they are trying to reintroduce.”

While the reintroduction of the auction system was laudable, he added, it should not have led to a ban on the willing buyer, willing seller household sales.