by Zwanai Sithole
The government has released $2 million to save 600,000 head of livestock from drought in Matabeleland province.
Acting Finance Minister Gorden Moyo told The Zimbabwean that the money will be used to buy stock feed and drill boreholes for starving livestock.
“The loss of livestock in the area has affected the beef industry as famers are losing their beasts on daily basis,” said Moyo. According to the Matabeleland South Arex officer, Bernard Sibanda, the province has so far lost 535 cattle due to drought.
Zimbabwe Commercial Farmers’ Union president, Donald Khumalo, last week urged government to take urgent measures, warning that Zimbabwe could face a repeat of the 1992 situation, where over half of the national herd succumbed to drought.
Villagers are reportedly selling their cattle for as little as $200 each. Before the government intervention some villagers were bartering their beasts for grass and stock feed from private agro dealers.