White Farmers Refuse To Buy Cattle Owned By Zanu (PF) Official
06/05/2011 16:56:00
Gwanda, May 06, 2011 – Cattle buyers mainly white commercial farmers from
Gwanda and Bulawayo refused to buy cattle belonging to former Matabeleland
South Zanu (PF) chairman Rido Mpofu at a Cattle Sale here on Thursday.
Mpofu is allegedly desperate for cash as workers at his Sunrise Restaurant
have gone for two months without pay.
“He desperately needs cash to pay his workers who are threatening to take
him to court because they have gone without pay for two months”, said a
source.
Mpofu had to transport back eight herds of cattle to his farm after
commercial farmers and butcher men showed no interest in his beasts despite
them being of a high quality.
They accused the former Gwanda Mayor of wanting to reap were he did not sow.
“These are stolen cattle how can he demand such a high price for animals he
grabbed?”, said one white farmer.
Zanu (PF) officials including Mpofu stand accused of grabbing properties
belonging to white farmers at the height of Zimbabwe’s chaotic land
resettlement over a decade ago.
Many of them have since amassed unparalleled wealth since the seizure of
farms in 2000.