adminArda officials are accusing the villagers, who live around Maphisa Growth Point, of letting their livestock graze in the Arda Irrigation Scheme fields.
The villagers told Chronicle that their livestock was locked up in pens for more than two days with no pastures and water.
Cattle in the district are facing starvation as the area like other parts of the province received little rainfall. Some villagers have since moved their livestock to nearby farms and resettlement areas where they are charged either R4 000 or a heifer per 11 cattle.
“What they are doing to our animals is pure evil, as they are denying them food and water,” said one of the villagers, Mr Isaac Ndlovu.
He said their attempts to engage the authorities in dialogue have landed on deaf ears, as the officials were refusing to meet them.
“It is very painful to see our livestock being starved like that and our repeated efforts to talk to the farm authorities have been to no avail,” said Mr Ndlovu.
He said some farmers were still in the dark that their livestock was impounded.
“As we speak some farmers are looking for their animals because when Arda impounded these animals, they did not tell anyone,” said Mr Ndlovu.
He said the livestock could die of starvation if the issue was not addressed urgently.
“If the cattle die we will be doomed. Our plans for winter wheat farming would also be put into disarray because we use the cattle as draught power,” said Mr Ndlovu.
Another villager, Mr Felix Tshuma, blamed Arda authorities for failing to repair their fence so as to secure the farm.
“This has led to livestock finding their way into the farm. We may be on the wrong side of the law in that we were not on the look-out and let our livestock graze there, but the root of the matter is that the farm is not secure,” said Mr Tshuma.
He said they had in the past months been trying to engage the farm authorities to allow their cattle to graze in the irrigation scheme because there was no farming activity.
“Drought has left our cattle with nowhere to graze as a result we tried to engage Arda officials so that they let the animals graze as they are our source of livelihood,” said Mr Tshuma.
He accused farm officials of being inconsiderate.
“Punishing the livestock is a bit inhumane, they should at least deal with us, the owners of the animals,” said Mr Tshuma.
Contacted for comment, Arda Antelope Farm manager Mr Arec Chinyai could neither deny nor confirm the development, insisting that this reporter meet him in person.
“I cannot comment on anything over the phone if you want to know what is happening you should come to my office,” said Mr Chinyai.
An official at Arda offices, however, said they were in the process of making villagers pay a fine.
“Once they pay the fines, we will free their animals,” said the official.
The officials, however, could not divulge how much they wanted.
Online Reporter