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The post More Nonequity Partnering — See Also appeared first on Above the Law.
Sean
‘Diddy’
Combs
(Photo
by
Shareif
Ziyadat/Getty
Images)
Ed.
Note:
Welcome
to
our
daily
feature
Trivia
Question
of
the
Day!
When
did
Southern
District
of
New
York
District
Judge
Arun
Subramanian
set
as
the
trial
date
for
the
criminal
case
against
Sean
“Diddy”
Combs
on
federal
sex
trafficking
and
racketeering
charges?
Hint:
The
trial
is
expected
to
take
about
a
month.
See
the
answer
on
the
next
page.
10.10.2024
22:05
The
Zimbabwe
Republic
Police
(ZRP)
has
uncovered
a
1,000-member
gay
syndicate
in
Harare
operating
through
a
WhatsApp
group
called
“Private
Lounge”
to
facilitate
the
illegal
relationships,
reported The
Herald.
The
investigation
followed
the
arrest
of
a
25-year-old
man
and
a
teenager
in
Highfield
engaged
in
a
gay
relationship.
The
man
lives
in
New
Canaan,
and
works
at
a
local
supermarket,
while
the
teenager
is
a
Form
Four
student
from
Glen
Norah
B
Extension.
The
teenager
joined
the
WhatsApp
group
in
January
2024,
introduced
himself,
and
sought
a
partner.
After
connecting
with
the
man,
they
agreed
to
meet
at
Machipisa
Shopping
Centre,
and
the
teenager
later
visited
the
man’s
home.
The
teenager’s
father
found
love
messages
from
the
man
on
his
son’s
phone
and
blocked
the
contact.
On
October
7,
2024,
the
man
attempted
to
contact
the
teenager
via
his
mother’s
phone,
prompting
the
father
to
report
the
matter
to
the
police.
The
man
was
taken
into
police
custody,
while
the
boy
was
released
to
his
parents
as
investigations
continue.
ZRP
national
spokesperson
Commissioner
Paul
Nyathi
confirmed
the
arrests.
He
said:
We
confirm
that
we
have
picked
up
two
suspects
who
have
assisted
us
in
unearthing
a
gay
and
homosexual
group
with
more
than
1,000
participants
who
have
been
meeting
at
various
places
and
houses
in
Harare.
Investigations
are
still
in
progress.
In
Zimbabwe,
gay
relationships
are
illegal.
In
February
2024,
the
government
warned
organisations
that
were
enticing
youths
into
homosexuality
through
educational
scholarships,
labelling
these
LGBT
scholarships
as
unlawful
and
unChristian.
The
Office
of
the
President
and
Cabinet
recently
criticised
foreign
interests
for
trying
to
attract
Zimbabwean
students
to
what
it
described
as
“alien,
anti-life,
unAfrican,
and
unChristian
values.”
Post
published
in:
Featured
HARARE
–
Seventy-nine
percent
or
eight
in
10
Zimbabweans
support
constitutional
provisions
limiting
the
president
to
a
maximum
two
five-year
terms,
according
to
a
new
survey
by
Afrobarometer.
The
limits
are
popular
with
Zimbabweans
of
all
age
groups
and
among
citizens
living
in
both
urban
and
rural
areas.
The
results
are
a
blow
to
supporters
of
President
Emmerson
Mnangagwa
who
are
actively
urging
him
to
amend
the
constitution
and
run
for
office
again
when
his
second
and
final
term
ends
in
2028.
Scrapping
term
limits
would
require
at
least
one
public
referendum.
Afrobarometer’s
survey
suggests
a
proposal
to
do
away
with
presidential
term
limits
would
be
hugely
unpopular.
“A
large
majority
of
Zimbabweans
say
they
prefer
the
present
constitutional
arrangement
that
limits
the
president
to
a
maximum
of
two
terms
in
office,”
Afrobarometer
said.
Men
are
more
likely
than
women
to
support
presidential
term
limits
–
81
percent
to
76
percent,
the
survey
showed.
Urban
residents
(85
percent)
strongly
support
term
limits
compared
to
their
rural
counterparts
(74
percent).
Support
for
term
limits
increased
with
respondents’
level
of
education,
rising
from
69
percent
among
those
with
primary
schooling
to
87
percent
among
those
with
tertiary
education.
All
age
groups
also
strongly
support
term
limits.
Survey
respondents
aged
18-35
years
were
in
favour
by
79
percent.
Age
36-55
and
56
and
above
were
equally
in
support
by
78
percent.
Just
20
percent
of
respondents
supported
scrapping
term
limits,
while
one
percent
of
the
respondents
either
said
they
“don’t
know”
or
declined
to
offer
their
opinions.
The
Afrobarometer
team
in
Zimbabwe,
led
by
the
Mass
Public
Opinion
Institute
(MPOI),
conducted
face-to-face
interviews
with
1,200
adult
citizens
between
June
1
and
June
15,
2024.
On
the
question
of
multi-party
political
competition
in
Zimbabwe,
about
two-thirds
(68
percent)
of
citizens
were
in
favour
of
having
many
political
parties
so
that
voters
have
real
choices
in
who
governs
them,
while
31
percent
said
political
parties
create
division
and
confusion
and
it
is
unnecessary
to
have
many
of
them.
HARARE
–
Innscor
Africa
Limited
has
been
ordered
to
divest
from
Profeeds
after
the
Supreme
Court
ruled
that
the
merger
of
Profeeds
and
National
Foods
created
a
near
monopoly
in
the
stockfeed
industry.
Supreme
Court
judges
said
“the
coming
together
of
two
companies
which
previously
were
competitors,
under
Innscor,
created
a
dominant
unit
which
can
reasonably
become
a
monopoly.”
Innscor,
which
owns
the
country’s
number
one
stock
feed
manufacturer,
National
Foods,
used
its
subsidiary
Ashram
Investments
to
acquire
59
percent
of
its
main
competitor
Profeeds
in
2013.
In
2014,
the
Competition
Tariff
Commission
(CTC)
examined
the
transaction
and
prohibited
the
merger
after
ruling
that
it
was
contrary
to
the
public
interest.
Undeterred,
Innscor,
through
Ashram,
decided
to
form
another
merger
with
Profeeds
in
2015,
this
time
with
a
minority
49
percent
stake.
Whereas
the
law
requires
companies
to
inform
the
CTC
of
a
merger
above
US$1.2
million
within
30
days,
the
companies
did
not
do
so
until
2019,
two
years
after
Innscor’s
new
lawyers
advised
the
company
to
inform
the
CTC.
The
CTC
took
a
dim
view
of
Innscor’s
decision
to
delay
in
informing
it
of
the
merger.
It
again
prohibited
the
second
transaction
and
imposed
a
ZWL$40
million
fine
on
the
company.
Innscor
challenged
the
CTC’s
decision
at
the
Administrative
Court
and
won,
prompting
the
commission
to
approach
the
Supreme
Court
on
appeal.
Justice
Tendai
Uchena
of
the
Supreme
Court,
with
Justices
Nicholas
Mathonsi
and
Felistus
Chatukuta
agreeing,
said
in
their
judgement
delivered
on
October
3
that
the
Administrative
Court
erred
in
finding
in
Innscor’s
favour.
The
judges
ruled:
“The
court
aquo
failed
to
consider
the
potential
harmful
effects
of
the
merger.
It
therefore
did
not
make
its
decision
in
terms
of
all
the
applicable
factors
in
assessing
a
merger…
“Monopolistic
tendencies
must
be
carefully
assessed
because
they
may
initially
appear
favourable,
but
in
the
long
run
they
may
–
when
the
monopolists
get
to
a
point
where
the
market
has
no
other
option
but
to
buy
their
goods
–
turn
around
and
control
even
the
economy
of
a
country
by
producing
highly
priced
goods
or
substandard
goods
sold
at
high
prices.
They
may
also
destroy
small
business
in
the
future.”
The
judges
said
the
Administrative
Court
ought
to
have
carefully
considered
the
fact
that
Innscor
retained
a
controlling
interest
in
both
National
Foods
and
Profeeds,
companies
which
specialise
in
manufacturing
and
selling
stock
feeds.
“Innscor
also
has
a
controlling
interest
in
Irvines
Zimbabwe,
a
major
customer
of
both
Profeeds
and
National
Foods.
An
analysis
of
Innscor’s
conduct
shows
that
it
desires
to
wholly
control
the
stock
feeds
market
which
is
not
permissible,”
the
Supreme
Court
said.
The
merger
“concentrated
industrial
power
in
the
two
biggest
companies
in
the
stock
feed
industry,”
they
added.
The
fine
imposed
on
Innscor
was
reasonable,
the
judges
said,
given
the
company’s
apparent
affinity
for
anti-competition
activities.
The
Profeeds
merger
was
the
third
time
Innscor
had
contravened
competition
laws,
the
court
said.
Following
the
merger,
Profeeds
and
National
Foods
now
controlled
57
percent
of
the
stock
feed
market,
with
the
next
competitor
enjoying
just
11
percent
market
share.
Profeeds
had
also
seen
its
shops
grow
from
19
to
40.
“It
took
Innscor
more
than
three
years
and
nine
months
to
notify
the
CTC
of
the
merger
which
it
had
already
consummated.
This…
demonstrates
the
nature,
duration,
gravity
and
extent
of
the
contravention
of
the
law…
It
is
also
on
record
that
Innscor
has
contravened
competition
laws
before.
This
conviction
increases
to
three
Innscor’s
contraventions
of
competition
laws.
It
shows
its
persistence
in
disregarding
competition
laws…
It
is
this
court’s
view
that
the
monetary
penalty
(of
ZWL$40
million)
was
justifiable,”
the
Supreme
Court
ruled.
We
know
that
when
in-house
counsel
are
tasked
with
hiring
outside
counsel,
they
generally
take
one
of
two
paths.
Hire
the
same
ol’
firm
they’ve
always
hired
or
if
there’s
a
niche
legal
issue
or
specific
venue
where
they
need
a
legal
assist,
they
begin
scouring
their
own
networks
to
see
if
anything
pops.
But
what
if
there
were
a
better
way?
Earlier
this
week
at
the
Association
of
Corporate
Counsel
(ACC)
annual
meeting,
Leopard
Solutions
launched
Leopard
PROWESS
(Panel
Ranking
and
Organizational
Workflow
for
Enhanced
Selection
System)
to
utilize
data
to
help
decide
who
to
hire.
The
product
touts
a
number
of
key
features
that
take
a
lot
of
the
legwork
out
of
the
hiring
process.
Innovative
ranking
system:
Corporate
counsels
can
score,
and
review
ratings
of
law
firms
based
on
responsiveness,
quality
of
work,
diversity,
and
more.
Locate,
vet,
and
rate
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with
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Generate
comprehensive
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report
features
multiple
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that
assess
the
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overall
health
in
just
a
few
clicks.
Find
company
connections
in
a
law
firm
with
a
click
of
a
button:
Use
cutting-edge
technology
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their
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Vast
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updated
database:
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Customizable
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Corporate
counsels
can
create
and
manage
their
law
firm
panels
with
ease,
using
data-driven
analytics
performance
metrics,
rank
and
review
law
firm
scores
based
on
responsiveness,
quality
of
work,
and
diversity.
And
the
demos
at
ACC
yielded
impressive
results.
Whether
folks
tooling
around
in
the
system
were
looking
for
counsel
in
a
city
they
didn’t
have
many
contacts
or
were
looking
for
experts
in
a
niche
legal
field
—
or
both
—
PROWESS
quickly
provided
leads
on
the
right
outside
counsel
for
the
task.
The
glory
of
finding
counsel
with
the
expertise
you
need
without
having
to
get
on
the
phone
or
paste
on
a
fake
smile
to
network
or
ask
for
a
favor
cannot
be
overstated.
PROWESS
also
allows
law
firms
to
sign
up
and
provide
extra
details
they
may
want
to
highlight
to
potential
clients.
Whether
it’s
a
new
office
that
opened
up,
some
key
experience
in
a
particular
practice
area,
or
alternative
fee
structures,
firms
can
highlight
the
stuff
they
think
makes
them
more
marketable.
And
what’s
really
great
is
that,
right
now,
the
product
is
free.
It’s
currently
in
beta
testing,
and
in-house
counsel
can
sign
up
to
use
the
product.
The
full
version,
along
with
an
update,
is
expected
to
launch
in
2025.
Kathryn
Rubino
is
a
Senior
Editor
at
Above
the
Law,
host
of
The
Jabot
podcast,
and
co-host
of
Thinking
Like
A
Lawyer.
AtL
tipsters
are
the
best,
so
please
connect
with
her.
Feel
free
to
email
her
with
any
tips,
questions,
or
comments
and
follow
her
on
Twitter
@Kathryn1 or
Mastodon
@[email protected].
HARARE
–
Zimbabwe
said
the
steep
devaluation
of
its
gold-backed
currency
last
month
has
triggered
shortages
of
bread,
sugar
and
other
staples
in
its
formally
regulated
stores,
suggesting
the
country’s
latest
effort
to
stand
up
its
local
unit
is
still
struggling.
“This
is
attributable
to
arbitrage,
as
informal
retail
economic
agents
seek
to
capitalise
on
exchange-rate
differentials,”
Information
Minister
Jenfan
Muswere
said
on
Tuesday.
He
cited
reports
of
hoarding
items
to
sell
in
street
markets
and
other
unregulated
outlets
at
the
higher
unofficial
exchange
rate.
Zimbabwe
devalued
the
ZiG
–
short
for
Zimbabwe
Gold
–
by
43%
on
27
September
after
it
slumped
on
the
unofficial
market
amid
doubts
the
country’s
sixth
attempt
at
a
local
currency
since
2009
would
work.
“Zimbabwe
lacks
fiscal
discipline.
We
spend
more
than
we
earn,”
London-based
fund
manager
Ritesh
Anand
told
Zimbabwe-based
media
presenter
Trevor
Ncube.
“We
fund
that
spending
through
printing.
And
the
printing
ultimately
erodes
the
value
of
the
currency.”
The
ZiG
was
lowered
by
the
central
bank
to
24.4
per
dollar
from
14
per
dollar.
It
was
quoted
at
25.97
per
dollar
on
Wednesday
by
the
central
bank.
But
that
is
still
well
above
the
unofficial
market
of
between
40
and
50
ZiG
per
dollar,
according
to
ZimPriceCheck.com,
a
website
that
monitors
official
and
unofficial
exchange
rates.
The
decline
has
come
despite
the
ZiG
being
backed
by
gold
and
hard-currency
reserves
held
at
the
central
bank.
“You
may
have
the
gold
reserves
but
what
the
central
bank
lacks
is
credibility,”
Anand
said.
“People
don’t
trust
the
currency.”
The
implications
of
that
lack
of
confidence
were
playing
out
on
the
nation’s
streets.
The
widening
gap
between
the
official
and
unofficial
ZiG
rates
is
funneling
business
into
the
informal
sector
of
the
economy,
where
participants
sell
exclusively
in
dollars,
at
the
expense
of
the
formal
sector,
which
has
to
accept
payment
in
local
currency.
Dr.
Joshua
Matanzima,
from
the
International
Water
Centre
based
at
Griffith,
is
a
Zimbabwean
researcher
whose
personal
connection
to
the
dangers
of
living
by
Lake
Kiriba
offered
insights
into
the
risks—his
late
brother’s
wife
was
taken
by
a
crocodile
while
fishing
in
the lake,
which
is
an
all-too-common
occurrence
in
the
region.
Lake
Kariba,
a
man-made
reservoir
built
in
1957,
is
a
striking
landscape
near
Victoria
Falls,
known
for
its
breathtaking
views
and
quintessential
African
wildlife—including
elephants,
buffaloes,
lions,
birds,
hippos,
and
crocodiles—that
depend
on
its
bountiful
fish
stock.
However,
beneath
the
surface
of
this
picturesque
setting
lies
a
grim
reality.
The
lake,
once
home
to
nearly
60,000
people
before
it
was
dammed,
has
become
a
sacred
and
dangerous
space
where
humans
and
wildlife
compete
for
food
and
territory.
This
competition
result
in
conflict,
a
theme
that
Dr.
Matanzima
uncovered
in
depth
in
his
recent
book.
In
Zimbabwe,
villagers
rely
on
the
lake
for
food
and
livelihoods,
often
venturing
into
crocodile
and
hippo
territory
with
little
awareness
of
the
dangers.
Unlike
in
Australia,
where
clear
signage
warns
against
the
risks
of
crocodile-infested
waters
in
the
northern
states
and
territories,
Lake
Kariba
lacks
proper
safety
measures
or
reliable
recorded
data
on
the
deaths
and
injuries
that
occur
each
year.
His
research
discovers
that
often
incidents
involving
minor
injuries
go
unreported.
Lack
of
data
prevents
the
proper
and
effective
management
of
the
conflicts.
“Several
fishing
communities
are
in
the
immediate
vicinity
of
the
Lake,
but
people
from
communities
far
from
the
Lake,
such
as
Kariba
town,
visit
the
Lake
on
a
daily
basis
for
their
livelihoods.
exposing
themselves
to
attacks
from
crocodiles
and
hippos,”
Dr.
Matanzima
said.
“Human
attacks
by
hippos
and
crocodiles
are
perpetuated
by
inadequate
awareness
campaigns,
and economic
hardship that
drives
people
to
encroach
on
the
lake,
even
when
it
is
dangerous.”
Climate
change
has
only
intensified
the
struggle.
As food
sources for
wildlife
become
scarce,
people
and
animals
are
drawn
into
even
closer,
more
dangerous
proximity.
Men
in
canoes
and
women
fishing
on
the
banks
are
routinely
at
risk
of
deadly
encounters.
Dr.
Matanzima’s
latest
release,
“The
Materiality
of
Lake
Kariba:
Water,
Livelihoods,
Belonging
and
Conservation,”
calls
on
the
Zimbabwean
government
to
take
action,
urging
them
to
fund
awareness
campaigns
about
the
lake’s
dangers
and
to
support
alternative
income
streams
for
the
villagers,
who
face
over
90%
unemployment.
His
work
aims
to
bring
international
attention
to
this
tragic
situation,
where
life
by
the
lake
is
a
daily
fight
for
survival.
“The
villages
are
calling
for
the
culling
of
crocodiles
and
hippos
to
reduce
their
number
from
the
lake,”
Dr.
Matanzima
said.
“One
villager
said,
‘We
now
have
too
many
crocodiles
in
the
lake
and
there
is
no
culling
that
is
going
on.
National
Parks
stopped
culling
a
long
time
ago.’
“The
villagers
also
want
the
problem
crocodiles
to
be
shot
immediately
after
an
incident
so
that
they
do
not
keep
attacking
humans.
However,
some
villagers
bemoan
that
when
an
incident
occurs—National
Parks
takes
time
to
arrive
at
the
scene
and
also
they
do
not
kill
crocodiles
involved
in
conflicts.
As
one
fisherman
noted:
‘they
shoot
in
the
sky.’
“There
is
a
need
to
listen
to
communities
and
incorporate
their
suggestions
into
conservation
policies
and
the
management
of
human-wildlife
conflict
in
this
region.
This
will
minimize
human-to-human
conflicts
over
wildlife
that
are
also
a
wicked
problem
at
Kariba
that
often
exacerbates
these
animal
attacks
on
humans.
“Culling
of
crocodiles
and
hippos
is
required
in
instances
where
communities
feel
like
the
creatures’
numbers
are
increasing.”
Post
published
in:
Featured
WASHINGTON
—The
World
Bank
Group’s
Board
of
Executive
Directors
has
approved
the
new Country
Engagement
Note
(CEN)
for
Zimbabwe
(2025-2026),
focused
on
supporting
the
country’s
immediate
development
priorities.
Aligned
with
Zimbabwe’s
Vision
2030
and
the
National
Development
Strategy
2021-2025,
the
CEN
contributes
to
the
World
Bank
Group’s
mission
of
ending
extreme
poverty
and
boosting
shared
prosperity.
The
CEN
is
structured
around
two
pillars.
Pillar
1
aims
to
support
the
country
in
reducing
macroeconomic
distortions,
strengthening
fiscal
policies,
and
improving
economic
governance,
while
fostering
a
more
conducive
environment
for
private
sector-led
growth.
Pillar
2
aims
to
help
build
resilience
by
boosting
pro-poor
social
services,
empowering
women,
and
delivering
more
efficient
assistance
to
vulnerable
households.
It
also
supports
resilience
to
climate
change
and
supports
the
energy
transition.
“Zimbabwe
has
significant
growth
potential,
with
its
well-educated
workforce,
abundant
natural
resources,
and
strategic
location.
Sustained,
inclusive,
and
resilient
growth
will
require
building
on
recent
reforms
and
advances
in
economic
policy.
We
look
forward
to
supporting
Zimbabwe
on
this
path
towards
a
more
prosperous
economy
that
benefits
both
its
people
and
the
broader
region,”
said Nathan
Belete,
World
Bank
Country
Director
for
Zimbabwe.
To
foster
the
private
sector’s
role
in
this
growth,
the
CEN
will
promote
increased
competitiveness
of
important
economic
sectors,
reinforce
improvements
to
the
business
regulatory
environment,
and
support
development
of
a
more
reliable
electricity
supply
for
greater
productivity.
“Promoting
private
sector
development
through
a
stable
macroeconomic
environment,
broader,
more
reliable
energy
access,
and
targeted
support
for
priority
sectors
through
this
CEN
will
be
essential
for
creating
jobs,
promoting
investment,
and
driving
economic
development.
We
look
forward
to
continuing
to
support
Zimbabwe
through
our
advisory
and
analytical
programs
to
this
end,”
says Cláudia
Conceição,
IFC
Regional
Director
for
Southern
Africa.
Furthermore,
the
CEN
will
support
strengthening of
the
government’s
social
protection
system
through
improved
targeting
and
implementation,
enabling
more
efficient
social
assistance
for
the
most
vulnerable
households,
especially
during
crises
such
as
the
current
drought.
It
will
also
work
to
improve
the
quality
of
healthcare
services,
especially
in
maternal
and
reproductive
health.
Finally,
the
strategy
will
contribute
to
resilience
to
climate
change
by
promoting
renewable
energy
sources,
improving
landscape
management,
and
establishing
stronger
disaster
preparedness
systems.
The
CEN
reaffirms
the
World
Bank
Group’s
commitment
to
supporting
Zimbabwe’s
development
priorities.
It
is
informed
by
extensive
consultations
with
a
wide
range
of
stakeholders
and
analytical
work
conducted
by
the
World
Bank
Group
over
the
past
two
years.
Post
published
in:
Business
HARARE
–
The
Food
and
Agriculture
Organization
of
the
United
Nations
(FAO)
with
financial
support
from
the
United
States
Agency
for
International
Development-Bureau
for
Humanitarian
Assistance
(USAID-BHA)
commissioned
farming
equipment
aimed
at
increasing
the
capacity
of
farmers
to
mass
process
homegrown
animal
stock
feeds
while
improving
household
resilience
to
‘shocks’
by
protecting
their
livestock
assets.
The
process
of
commissioning
the
equipment
took
place
in
Bulawayo.
The
commissioning
is
part
of
the
“Mitigating
the
impact
of
livestock
diseases
in
Zimbabwe”
project,
which
is
funded
to
the
tune
of
USD2,2
million
by
USAID-BHA,
where
40
mobile
diesel
operated
chaff
cutters
were
commissioned.
Furthermore,
the
project
is
rehabilitating
60
dip
tanks,
coupled
with
drilling
of
20
boreholes
and
construction
of
one-hectare
drip
irrigated
gardens
around
the
boreholes.
“This
equipment
and
infrastructure
are
expected
to
strengthen
responses
to
control
livestock
disease
outbreaks,
thereby
protecting
livelihood
assets,
and
promoting
improved
livestock
nutrition
to
increase
animal
disease
resistance,”
said
Patrice
Talla,
FAO
Subregional
Coordinator
for
Southern
Africa
and
Representative
to
Zimbabwe
in
his
remarks
presented
on
his
behalf
by
FAO
Project
Coordinator
Felistas
Ndhlovu,
during
the
commissioning
of
the
equipment.
Implementation
of
this
project
is
anchored
on
three
interventions:
1)
actions
to
control
livestock
disease
outbreaks
for
the
prevention
of
livelihood
assets;
2)
enhanced
climate
risk
proofing
through
promotion
of
technologies
that
improve
animal
nutrition
and
productivity
and
drought
risk
mitigation
and
3)
an
enhanced
role
of
women
in
decision
making
and
participation.
These
interventions
are
designed
to
curtail
the
ongoing
threat
caused
by
disease
outbreaks
and
provide
long
term,
sustainable
solutions
to
building
resilience.
Launched
at
the
beginning
of
2024
in
the
midst,
and
in
anticipation
of
the
impacts
of
the
El
Nino
induced
drought,
the
project
is
assisting
farmers
in
realizing
their
potential
into
growing
as
a
business
and
in
augmenting
the
principle
of
Village
Business
Units
(VBU’s)
that
is
a
principle
initiated
by
the
Ministry
of
Lands,
Agriculture,
Fisheries,
Water
and
Rural
Development
in
building
resilience
and
to
promote
the
mindset
of
farming
as
a
business,
leaving
no
one
behind.
“We
recognize
livestock
as
an
important
source
of
livelihood
and
household
income
in
Zimbabwe.
This
project
aims
to
protect
that
livelihood
and
to
improve
the
overall
food
security
of
Zimbabweans
targeted
through
this
program,
said
Amber
Paulin,
Director
for
USAID-BHA
Zimbabwe
during
the
commissioning
of
the
equipment
in
Bulawayo.
The
project
is
providing
capacity
building
to
farmers
and
government
stakeholders
on
the
operationalisation
and
maintenance
of
the
equipment
and
infrastructure.
Farmer
Field
Schools
committees
and
Livestock
Development
Committees
have
been
put
in
place
to
oversee
and
coordinate
the
sustainable
use
and
maintenance
of
the
equipment
and
infrastructure,”
said
Fortune
Kachidza,
FAO
Livestock
Specialist
in
Zimbabwe.
Speaking
at
the
handover
ceremony,
Mukhunjulelwa
Ndlovu,
Deputy
Director
Matabeleland
South
province
in
the
Department
of
Agriculture
and
Rural
Development
Advisory
Service
(ARDAS)
acknowledged
the
funding
from
USAID-BHA
in
complementing
government’s
efforts
towards
combating
the
devastating
effects
of
El
Nino
induced
drought
and
livestock
diseases.
He
further
stated
that
government
has
launched
Village
Business
Units,
where
livestock
farmers
should
readily
access
support
services
to
improve
productivity,
production
and
rural
livelihoods.