Cattle scandal rocks Bubi Council

The Sunday News has unmasked a cattle auction scandal believed to be taking place in Bubi, in Matabeleland North.

According to the newspaper, officials at Bubi Rural District Council are reportedly conniving with veterinary personnel and the police to auction stray cattle for no more than $60 to a syndicate of unscrupulous businesspeople, with opening bids going for a measly $10.   

It is reported that villagers contracted as stray animal keepers are not realising the benefits of keeping the stray beasts as they are only paid 10 percent of the auction price.

Investigations carried out by this paper also revealed that the cattle were sold without public notice, with some stray animal keepers finding the cattle having been auctioned in their absence.

Although officials professed ignorance about the dodgy sales, Sunday News is in possession of a Bubi Rural District Council receipt and police clearance certificate dated Friday 28 November for one Khanyiso Khabo who bought a brown steer for $60.

"According to my understanding, the council officials are supposed to go to the stray keeper's homestead with veterinary and police officers to clear the sale. This must be done together with the village head.

"We used to have public auctions whereby everyone is aware of the sale. However, villagers were surprised to hear that some stray cattle had been sold last month with bidding starting at $10," said a villager who refused to be named.

When Sunday News visited Dollar Extension in Bubi, villagers were in the middle of a meeting over the issue.

Mr Ike Moyo, the village head, said he was surprised to hear that some stray cattle had been sold for a song without his knowledge.

"I cannot say much because I was not informed about the sale. When these cattle came to the village we reported to the police and they were registered under the council. It is shocking to see the council not informing us about the sale, only for me to hear about it from the stray keepers. Now I am afraid that the villagers are not going to report strays to the police because they feel cheated," said the village head.

Mr Hamandishe Ndlovu, one of the stray keepers, said that when a cow he was keeping was sold, council officials ordered him to keep it penned until they arrived.

"Ngezwa sebengitshayela ucingo abekhansilini besithi ngibalindele baze bafike (council officials phoned and told me to wait for them at home). There were about 10 of them, I noticed a ZRP officer, some members of the council and a local businessman who bought the cow for $50. They said they will give me 10 percent of the amount, so I received $5 for keeping the stray cow," said Mr Ndlovu.

Mr Marko Ndlovu, another stray animal keeper, said he had been keeping a cow since February and it was sold for $60 while he was away in Bulawayo.

"I was phoned by my employee telling me that the council wants to sell the cow. I told him to ask them to wait for me but they could not wait because it was sold the following day. What surprised me was the way they were rushing to buy the cow and the price that was charged. No villagers were informed about the sale. My employee said he did not sign the clearance papers because he does not have a national identity card but I was surprised to see his signature appearing on the form," he said.

Bubi Rural District Council chief executive officer Mr Patson Mlilo claimed to be unaware of the auctions.

"I am not sure of this because the council is the last recipient of the money. This is not true unless if someone is doing this without my knowledge, of which it is a serious crime to do so. What I know is that the stray keepers are not given much because we do not want to encourage the villagers to look for stray cattle in order to raise money. We definitely do not tolerate cattle being sold at less than $300 unless if it is a calf," he said.

Contacted for a comment, the Bubi district administrator, a Mr L Ncube, was evasive. He told our reporter that he could not discuss the issue over the phone.

"At the moment we cannot talk about that issue because it needs to be discussed in the office not over the phone. I cannot comment about this as of now," said Mr Ncube.