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Masvingo bureau
The Masvingo provincial leadership has earmarked nearly 60,000 hectares for cattle ranching by indigenous farmers in the Lowveld, in a bid to resuscitate the Cold Storage Company (CSC) plant. The CSC plant has been lying idle for the past decade owing to a decrease in farmers involved in cattle farming in the province, leaving hundreds of people jobless.

Masvingo Provincial Affairs Minister Senator Shuvai Mahofa revealed that plans were at an advanced stage to allocate more than 200 model A2 farms to new farmers in Mwenezi and Chiredzi to venture into cattle farming.

She said the revival of the plant was part of the government’s plans to stimulate economic recovery in the province in line with Zim-Asset.

“We want to ensure that the CSC plant in Masvingo industrial area is re-opened so that we can create employment to boost the economy,’’ she said.

Cde Mahofa said the CSC plant used to get cattle from white commercial farmers across the province, and that there was a need for indigenous people to take over following the launch of the land reform programme.

Cde Mahofa said indigenous farmers should fill the void by entering the lucrative beef industry.

“The government will assist the new cattle farmers with heifers for breeding purposes. It’s our hope that once the CSC plant is up and running, the economic fortunes of the province will change for the better,’’ said Cde Mahofa.

The CSC plant used to be one of the biggest beef processors in Zimbabwe with about 400 beasts slaughtered daily at the peak of its operations.