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FARMER’S 70 PIGS DIE DUE TO HUNGER

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image Bheki Tsabedze looks at some of the remaining pigs inside a pigsty. (pics: Khulekani Nene)

MPAKA – A farm owner has suffered huge losses, estimated to be worth about E100 000, following the death of 70 pigs from his farm.


For the past month, Bheki Tsabedze (28), an ambitious young entrepreneur from Mpaka, has watched helplessly as his swine die - reportedly due to hunger.


Other than the losses he has incurred, Tsabedze has endured the pain of removing, by himself, the dead animals from the pigsty before going on to destroy them.


Sometimes, he said, he gives the carcass to his dogs.
He revealed that the pigs started dying shortly after he experienced serious financial challenges which, he said, were caused by unavailability of markets and alternative sources of funding or capital.


He said due to the financial troubles, he failed to run his farm accordingly - especially by failing to buy food for feeding the pigs.
“I had 210 pigs in the farm and now I am left with 140.


“The 70 pigs which died included 63 young ones and seven fully grown ones. Ten of the pigs that died were ready for the markets,” he said.
Tsabedze said he tried to solicit funds so he could buy food for the swine but, unfortunately, all his attempts were unsuccessful.


He said he did not end there, but also tried to find a market to sell some of the pigs but again, he said, his attempts were in vain.
Making things worse, Tsabedze said he lost a market where he was supplying two pigs every month.


As the pigs died, Tsabedze said he continued searching for new markets due to the fact that he could no longer even afford to buy medication for some of his animals that had fallen sick.
As if the Lord was answering his prayers, Tsabedze said he clinched a deal to supply pork at a popular hangout spot in Mbabane.
“I was expecting to get E21 000 from the deal but unfortunately I was defrauded by a man who had helped me to clinch the deal. He submitted his bank details to the owners of the business and after I had supplied the pork, they deposited the money into his account,” he said in a sad tone.
Tsabedze revealed that in the past week, none of his pigs have died following that a good Samaritan had bought food for the animals at a tune of E28 000.
Tsabedze is appealing for more assistance from the public.
He is specifically seeking financial support so that he can sustain his business or alternatively find a market for selling his pork.

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