Bob gives AU 300 cattle as millions starve
President Robert Mugabe’s donation comes in the backdrop of a severe drought that has left 3 million Zimbabweans facing starvation.
|||Harare - On the eve of his delayed 92nd birthday party, President Robert Mugabe has presented an unusual donation to the African Union (AU).
The Deputy Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Erasmus Mwencha, received 300 cattle from the Zimbabwean leader in Harare on Thursday.
Mugabe, who held the rotating AU chair until last month, said he was honouring a pledge he made to the African Union Foundation in June 2015.
He said he made the donation as a way of dissuading Africa from over-reliance on external partners whose donations come with strings attached.
Mugabe’s donation comes in the backdrop of a severe drought that has left 3 million Zimbabweans, a quarter of the population, facing starvation.
Speaking to journalists after meeting Mugabe, Mwencha said the cattle donation would immensely assist the AU Foundation in fulfilling its programmes.
“I am here for very good news,” said an elated Mwencha.
“The president during his tenure as chairperson of the African Union made a contribution and a donation to the private sector and as we know that last year when we had Ebola the private sector came up in a very strong way to support the African Union. So his excellency (Mugabe) also showed his commitment in that direction.
“He made a donation of about 300 cattle which will be a contribution to support our programme including, for instance, building our health capacity and also strengthening our education for the continent,” said Mwencha.
It was not immediately clear how the AU official planned to transport the cattle to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia where the continental union is headquartered.
He said a decision would have to be made as to whether to sell the animals or “get a place to keep them so that they multiply”.
Mugabe, who says he feels lonely on the African political landscape because true Pan-Africanists are scarce, expressed delight at finally honouring his pledge.
“I am happy that the gift we offered to the AU is at last received by the beneficiary. I just decided that we make a gift in kind, it just struck me that no one had ever thought of a gift by way of cattle to the AU and since we are cattle people why shouldn’t we also make a gift to the AU in cattle form?” Mugabe said.
The Zimbabwean leader said it was vital to support the AU Foundation which promotes programmes related to skills development, women’s empowerment, youth development and entrepreneurship.
“We are happy to make such a contribution. It (AU) is our organisation. And we hope the cattle, as will be decided now by the AU, will play some part in establishing the foundation, making the foundation keep going,” Mugabe added.
A businessman from Mashonaland West province, Jimayi Muduvuri, on whose farm the cattle are being kept, said he was delighted to assist Mugabe with such a crucial task.
His property is aptly named “Vuka Farm”, meaning “arise” in iSiNdebele. Mwencha has visited the farm.
Mugabe, who has championed an agrarian programme that has antagonised some Western governments, is himself a keen farmer and his state-of-the-art dairy farm and processing plant near Harare are now one of Zimbabwe’s biggest producers of milk.
The world’s oldest president turned 92 on February 21 and a massive birthday bash costing $800 000 is lined up for this Saturday in the south-eastern city of Masvingo.
The AU Foundation is a vital institution which interfaces with the private sector, philanthropists and other well-wishers in efforts to finance the continent’s Agenda 2063 development vision.
African News Agency