Eleven cattle die from lethal chemical from Judge's farm

Neighbours of High Court Judge, Justice Maphios Cheda in Figtree have lost their livestock due to his farm employee's disobedience.

Justice Cheda said he had found two 20-litre containers of a chemical in one of the storerooms when he moved into the farm some time last year and he instructed his employees to destroy them. The farm was previously owned by Mr Bret Enslin.

Eleven cattle died after being dipped in the very lethal chemical which was acquired from Khulumani Moyo, an employee at Justice Cheda's farm. Eight of the cattle belonged to Mr Mica Moyo and the other three to Ms Regina Nyathi.

Justice Cheda said he suspected the workers could have given villagers a dangerous chemical that he had instructed them to destroy.
"Two weeks ago, I specifically instructed my workers at the farm to dig a hole and dispose of the chemical but it seems they disobeyed that and decided to give it to some people. It is so sad to have my neighbours lose their cattle in such a way."

Moyo said he received the so-called dipping chemical some time last week from his relative, Mr Norman Dube. He said he dipped his cattle on Friday and on Saturday morning found seven of them dead and the other one died on Sunday.

"I got this chemical sometime last week from Norman Dube who said he got it from Khulumani Moyo, an employee at Justice Cheda's farm," said Mr Moyo.

"Not knowing that it was poison, I used the chemical to dip 12 beasts on Friday only to receive the shock of my life to find seven of them dead the following morning."

"They all have bloody diarrheoa and are discharging a whitish fluid in their mouth and nose. I fear they might die as well."

Ms Regina Nyathi, who dipped three head of cattle, said she found Mr Moyo dipping his cattle and requested that hers be treated as well.

The next day all three of them died.

"Where will I get other cattle? The source of this poisonous chemical should compensate us," fumed Ms Nyathi.

Justice Cheda's worker, Mr Khulumani Moyo, confirmed he had been instructed to dispose of the chemical but said Mr Norman Ndlovu insisted he wanted it.

"We did not know it was poison. When we were about to dispose of it, Ndlovu came and requested to have it and we gave him not knowing it was lethal."

Mr Dube admitted he gave the chemical to Mr Moyo sometime last week.
"Khulumani wanted to dispose of the chemical and I took one of the containers thinking it was a dipping chemical.
"I gave Mr Moyo two litres and sold 7,5 litres to Mr Nimrod Ndlovu," he said.

Mr Ndlovu could not be reached for comment.
The remaining chemical is at Figtree Police Station and the cattle carcasses have been buried in a deep hole about eight kilometres from the village.