Ostrich farm invaded
http://www.thezimbabwean.co.uk/
06.02.13
by Pamenus Tuso
The multi-million-dollar ostrich and crocodile breeding Dollar Bubi (Pvt)
project in Matabeleland North is in danger following the recent the invasion
of the business. The Indonesian owners, who are covered by the Bilateral
Investment Protection Agreement, have abandoned the project following the
disruptions.
Dollar Bubi started operating in 1997 and owns Dollar Bubi Block farm in
Bubi and Mimosa farm in Nyamandlovu area. Both farms used to rear ostriches
and crocodiles, and had horticultural production as well as cattle ranching
before the land reform programme.
The company has a majority shareholding in PT Roya Ostrindo Zimbabwe, an
Export Processing Zone tannery that produces ostrich meat and skins for
export to the overseas market. Workers at the two farms claim the invaders
were led by a known war veteran – Jetro Sibanda.
No comment could be obtained from Sibanda, as his whereabouts were unknown,
or the owners of the farm. The company has already retrenched its entire
workforce of 52 at Mimosa while an undisclosed number of workers have met
the same fate at Dollar Bubi Block farm.
“We have all been served with retrenchment letters and the company is
winding up its operations. Recently the company engaged contract workers to
harvest the remaining horticultural produce,” said a worker who refused to
be named for fear of victimisation.
According to a letter written to the Retrenchment Board by the company’s
representative ,Francis Acantilado, the company and the employees have
agreed on a total retrenchment package of $156,493 including statutory
terminal benefits for the all the affected workers.
During its peak, Mimosa farm used to be home to more than 5,000 ostriches
with 12,000 to 15,000 being slaughtered at the Cold Storage Company and the
meat and skins being marketed locally and in Europe. The farm used to have
over 4,000 crocodiles.