Antony Chawagarira
MVURWI — President Emmerson Mnangagwa received 588 cattle as a birthday gift during celebrations to mark his 84th birthday and Munhumutapa Day in Mvurwi, Mashonaland Central Province, on Tuesday.
The 588 cattle were donated by seven individuals, with each donor contributing 84 beasts in line with the President’s age.
The donors were President Mnangagwa’s son Collins Mnangagwa, Dr Kudakwashe Tagwirei, businessman Wicknell Chivayo, Mabvuku-Tafara MP Scott Sakupwanya, Paul Tungwarara, Delish Nguwaya and an individual identified as AKA Snoop Dogg.
Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation Minister Tino Machakaire announced the cattle donations during the celebrations.
The presentation formed part of events marking the President’s 84th birthday, which coincided with the inaugural Munhumutapa Day.
Munhumutapa Day was established as an annual public holiday on September 15 to commemorate Zimbabwe’s pre-colonial Mutapa heritage.
The cattle gift also comes against the background of President Mnangagwa’s involvement in agriculture through his Precabe Farm in Sherwood, Kwekwe.
Precabe Farm has been associated with livestock and crop production, with the President having showcased commercial farming activities including cattle breeding and wheat production.
The farm had also invested heavily in livestock, with cattle forming a major part of the operation. Breeds included the distinctive Ankole, while goats, pigs and poultry were also reared at the farm.
Since 2008 to this day, President Mnangagwa has been slaughtering two beasts a week to feed workers. There are 2 000 cattle, over 400 goats as well as fish and chickens at the farm.
Fish farming was another component of the mixed-farming operation, adding to the farm’s diverse agricultural activities.
