Ministers of agriculture meets Matabeleland farmers at Holiday in today

The ministers of agriculture, Joseph Made and Paddy Zhanda are meeting farmers at a workshop in Bulawayo today when farmers are bracing themselves to confront them over the closure of the Commercial Cattle Sales which were being conducted at the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair grounds in Bulawayo.

Minister Zhanda closed the CC Sales after foot and mouth was detected on three of the cattle which were being sold at the sale. He said the move was meant to control the disease.

One of the affected farmers by the closure of the CC Sales, Geniva Sibanda said the workshop has presented the farmers in Bulawayo with an opportunity to tell the ministers that they have seriously crippled the farmers progress.

 "Farmers, this is the right opportunity today to meet Zhanda and Made at the FMD workshop Holiday Inn. These two ministers need to be told that this policy of decentralisation which has seen our cattle going for peanuts does not work. They hide behind the banner of FMD whilst driving their hidden Agenda," said Sibanda. "We say hidden cause it doesn't benefit us in any manner. They are stinking rich and don't feel the pinch, it's so difficult to convince some one who goes to bed with a full belly that there are people out there who are starving. Let's speak with one voice and challenge this draconian policy which benefit the few. We want all Bulawayo pens opened."