Zanu PF launches artificial insemination programme for cattle in Mat South

In what Zanu PF and the state controlled media has described as a "bid to improve the national herd and economically empower farmers and villagers" in Matabeleland South. Zanu PF has launched an artificial insemination programme for cattle.
Zanu PF Secretary for Production and Labour, Dzikamai Mavhaire, said the programme, which has already started in other provinces would go a long way in resuscitating livestock production and make people appreciate cattle breeding.
Mavhaire conducted an assessment tour in Insiza District on Friday to raise awareness about the programme before its implementation. He was accompanied by the party's Secretary for Information and Publicity, Rugare Gumbo, provincial chairman for Matabeleland South Cde Andrew Langa and the Deputy President of the Senate Naison Ndlovu.
Addressing villagers during the tour at a community dip tank in Nyozane Village where villagers from Ward 18 had brought their cattle for dipping, Mavhaire said the programme passed through the Politburo and the Central Committee before a proposal was made to study potentials of provinces in cattle breeding.
"We are moving around the country to conscientise farmers and villagers about cattle artificial insemination, a programme which would tremendously improve the farmers economically and the national herd. We have to make people realise that land ownership is not wealth, but it is how the land is utilised that determines the success of the land owners," said Mavhaire.
"Matabeleland region is on position six in the country in terms of cattle breeding yet it is a very good area for cattle breeding with vast land. All we need is adequate knowledge and a planned system to improve the situation."
Cde Mavhaire said the programme would go a long way in liberating Zimbabweans economically and also improving the health of the cattle in the country through proper and adequate dipping of the animals.
"We are our own political liberators and now we should work towards being our own economic liberators. People must take advantage of what God has given them and make brisk businesses through cattle ranching.
"We also want this programme to resuscitate organisations like the Cold Storage Company (CSC) and Bata Shoe Company because no one will come and do that for us," said Cde Mavhaire.
He told villagers that the programme would be implemented in their areas as soon as they organised themselves and communicated that they were ready for it.
From the community dip tank, the party delegation proceeded to Inns Fallen Farm in Ward 18 where more than 1 000 cattle are being bred by a resettled farmer Mr Osfael Mazibuko.
They also visited Mr Butho Dube's farm in the same area. Mr Dube owns more than 300 cattle after he was resettled under the land reform programme in 2006.
They later went to Mrs Joyce Moyo's farm in the same ward, where she is running a poultry project with more than 8 000 broiler chickens.Cde Rugare Gumbo was impressed with the livestock production in the area and said Matabeleland South was a historical province, which had great potential of feeding the nation.
"Animal farming is key to Matabeleland region. Zanu-PF is here to empower people to excel in their farming activities because we fought for this country to have decent homes and alleviate hunger in the country, especially in the rural areas.
This programme was started by the late Vice-President, Dr Joshua Nkomo and it is now being enhanced by Cde Mavhaire who understood the vision of the late nationalist.
"I am impressed with the cattle that I have seen here because they are in good health and well looked after. We have since come to see what Zanu-PF can do to massively increase the number of cattle through artificial insemination. Cattle breeding is a business, which is very essential for the people and the country," said Cde Gumbo.
He urged youths to take the party's indigenisation programmes seriously.
Cde Gumbo urged the villagers to brand their cattle with personal and district or provincial brands so that they could easily recover them when they are stolen.