Zimpapers Logo

Fungai Lupande Mash Central Bureau

MBIRE Rural District Council is building a modern slaughter pole facility using devolution funds to boost development of the marketing system for cattle, goats and sheep.

The slaughter facility, which is almost complete, is designed for slaughtering animals, skinning, dressing, cutting up carcasses and packaging for sale.

This follows unfair trade relations which saw livestock farmers not getting fair value for their beasts.

The slaughter pole will open a meat market at Mushumbi urban centre in Mbire, create opportunities for the local communities and improve rural farm incomes.

Mbire RDC chief executive officer Mr Claudius Majaya said the district was conducive for livestock production but farmers being were short-changed by unscrupulous dealers from Harare.

“We will slaughter the cattle here and make sure we sell meat. We are working hard on improving our cattle and goat breeds,” said Mr Majaya. 

“We have acquired the exotic breeds and we are doing artificial insemination. We are also using devolution funds to construct dip tanks in a bid to reduce distances travelled in search of anti-tick services by farmers. 

“So far we have constructed two dip tanks at Majinga in Ward 4 and Kado in Ward 13. We have put borehole water at the dip tanks to ensure that water for livestock and people is available.”

Mr Majaya said despite an increase in the number of livestock, especially cattle in Mbire, the local authority had been slow in constructing to construct dip-tanks to reduce the distance travelled to access dipping services until devolution funds provided a head-start for the local authority to deliver on expectations of the people.

According to the second crop and livestock assessment report, Mashonaland Central has 512 596 cattle, 101 535 sheep, 427 171 goats and 45 597 pigs.

Mbire district has two urban centres, Mahuhwe and Mushumbi, and Mr Majaya said the council was working with Zinwa to drill 13 boreholes out of a target of 40 by end of year.

“The district is below 35 percent in water and sanitation coverage. 

“This has posed several challenges including crocodile attacks as people frequent crocodile infested rivers in search of water,” he said.

“Major rivers form 90 percent of our people’s livelihood causing siltation. Drilling more boreholes will take our people away from the rivers.”

Mr Majaya said the council was almost through with construction of three schools which will be opened mid-term.

There was a target of four new secondary schools this year to reduce distances travelled to school.

“We still have children walking for more than 14km in search of secondary education. Wildlife and rivers were barriers that affected children from going to school. We are constructing schools and clinics across the river so that people don’t cross flooded rivers in search of services.”