via White farmers knew what to do says Muzenda | The Zimbabwean 24 June 2014 by Regerai Tukutuku

A senior government official has be-moaned the loss of white farmers displaced by the government under its chaotic and corrupt land “reform” programme.

Addressing villagers in Gutu last week Deputy Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Tongai Muzenda, who is also the son of the late Vice President Simon Muzenda, said former white farmers had skills and knew well the types of farming which suited particular areas in the country.

“The former white farmers knew what they were doing and this area of Gutu West used to have a herd of close to 60,000 – but now all is history. We want to return to those golden days when the country was among the best beef producers and exporters in southern Africa,” said Muzenda, the MP for Gutu West.

“The former white farmers knew very well that there is no crop you can produce in this part of the country hence they concentrated on cattle production,” said Muzenda. “We have to find ways of reviving cattle production in Gutu’s Chatsworth area by ensuring that each family has at least two heifers for breeding,” he said.

Agricultural minister Joseph Made said recently his ministry had engaged the European Union with the aim of regaining its beef export quota.

“We have engaged in high level talks with the EU so that we start exporting our beef and I am happy with the progress we have made so far,” said Made. Exports were stopped 10 years ago as the country was unable to fulfil its quota due to several factors including the decimation of the national herd that followed the land invasions and uncontrolled foot and mouth disease.

The country used to export the meat through the Cold Storage Company, which is on the verge of total collapse due to serious financial problems.