Farmers bay for BMC blood
Thursday, December 21, 2023 | 930 Views |
The BMC purchases cattle in Ngamiland at P31/kg
The state-owned abattoir had lately outdone itself with most payments for the cattle that were sold in April/May only paid for in November.
Prominent farmer and former chairman of North West Integrated Farmers Association (NWIFA), Simon Bojosi has suggested that should the BMC continue with late payments, interest and other surcharges must be levied on the parastatal. He argued that parastatals, and indeed other government departments should see the livestock sector for what it is – a business. “And business sells goods and services so that they can continue to be in business. Now if you fail to pay for my goods, you’re effectively putting me out of business,” he reasoned.
It is a clear signal that the government’s purse is empty and that our own behaviour has left veterinary officials fighting with one hand tied behind their backs. We have been here before. During COVID-19, many of us thought we knew better. We ignored simple rules, we carried on as if the danger was someone else’s problem, and the virus took lives and left our economy on its knees. We are still broke from that experience. Yet now, with FMD...