Sharon Chiware, Midlands Reporter
LIVESTOCK farmers are complaining over the cattle clearance process saying it is cumbersome and fuels corruption.
Zimbabwe Farmer’s Union (ZFU) provincial head for Midlands Mr Alpha Manjera said that livestock producers were now reluctant to sell their cattle due to the hassles they go through during the clearance process.
“There is what is called the livestock levy pegged at 10.5 percent and is paid through the Rural District Councils (RDCs). It is not clear why farmers are required to pay that money to the RDCs.
“They are supposed to use part of the levies that we pay at RDCs to rehabilitate road networks which are now damaged due to the incessant rains,” he said.
Mr Manjera also criticised the veterinary department for not communicating with the farmers on serious matters such as the movement of livestock.
“We pay cattle levy but the veterinary department is letting us down. Farmers are told about the ban only when they seek clearance from the department.
“The department has inadequate vaccinations and officials are immobile.
“As a result, people move cattle without authority and there is a danger that if there is an outbreak of a disease, it will spread nationally affecting the livestock industry.
“We would like the Government through such departments as the veterinary to take livestock farming seriously as other departments have done on crops like tobacco, wheat and maize farming,” said Mr Manjera.
Mr Manjera said ZFU was working on a project called Inclusive Policy Dialogue for Social Development (IPDSD).
“This programme focuses on addressing issues affecting farmers through stakeholder participation so as to advocate for livestock revitalisation”, he said.
Meanwhile, Mr Manjera has urged farmers to commercialise their operations and insure animals to avoid losses in the event of an uncertainty such as disease outbreak and natural disasters like drought.
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