The Sunday Mail
Harmony Agere
An alleged scam running under the name Cattle Ownership Society reportedly syphoned thousands of dollars from farmers and civil servants for several years after promising to help grow their herds, it has emerged. This is not the first time the society has been accused of swindling people as it clashed with the Zimbabwe Famers Union in 2014 over the same allegations.
Information gathered by this publication shows that over the years the scheme has been targeting farmers who sell their tobacco at auction floors.
Charging monthly fees starting at US$55 per month, the scheme promised to give clients between two and 1 000 cattle after 48 months of consistent subscriptions.
However, farmers who visited our offices last week and others who stormed the society’s offices say they have not yet received their cattle despite paying consistently.
Some who had grown frustrated with the scheme and wanted to pull out are also struggling to get refunds.
The farmers say the Cattle Ownership Society is hiding behind vexatious terms which they claim were smuggled into their contracts.
One such victim is Mr Didymus Matongo who had documents which show that his family has been struggling to get their cattle which have been due for over two years.
The cattle, which are valued at over US$600, are supposed to be offered in full grown breeds of either Brahman, Tuli or Boran.
“We joined the scheme in 2012, first paying US$35 a month and then US$55 for two cattle,” said Matongo. “They had approached my mother Sofia Matuku soon after she sold her tobacco at an auction floor and suspecting nothing sinister, she joined.
“They promised to deliver the cattle in 2014 but we are in 2016 now and the cattle have not yet been given us.”
Matongo said US$1 200 was garnished from his mother’s bank account into the society’s account (number 31300835).
“Despite our efforts they keep giving us excuses and we can only wonder if we will get the cattle or our money back. On some occasions they tell you we want proof of payment. On another they just want an ID photocopy or a letter. And if you do all of that they keep on coming up with excuses.
“I am not alone in this; there are a lot more people who have been embezzled who go to the offices but leave empty handed.
“It’s painful because we have paid a lot of money and we cannot just lose it like that, in fact, they should pay us back with interest.”
When The Sunday Mail Extra visited the offices in Borrowdale there were other customers complaining.
One of the customers, whose four cattle were due for collection, was told that the contract terms did not allow him to take all the beasts at once.
“What are you telling me now? It’s not like I have to beg you to give me my cattle because I paid for them and the contract that I entered did not state anything of this sort,” fumed the man as he clashed with society officials.
“Look, I have already hired a truck at US$100 per cow to take them to my home in Gweru, so what should I do now? The way you operate is not good … that is why many people are now saying they made a mistake joining this scheme.”
An elderly client outside the premises said she had contributed over US$3 000 realised from her tobacco but got nothing back.
She said she was poor and old, adding that she thought the cattle would secure the futures of her young grandchildren.
A Cattle Ownership Society worker identified as Lenny said the organisation was not out to dupe anyone, saying some clients may have not fully understood the contracts.
In the case of Matuku, he said the cattle were ready for collection and a letter from the client requesting to collect her cattle was all that was needed. Asked if the letter was the reason why Matuku had failed to collect her cattle for the past two years, he said collection was only due after 48 months.
“After that they can collect their cattle, what is only needed as a letter of request from them to show the date and time they would want to do so,” he said.
The clients, however, say those terms were new to them and they had initially been told they would get their cattle after two years of payment. Zimbabwe Commercial Farmers Union president Mr Wonder Chabikwa warned against joining schemes before verifying with union leaders.
“We are worried because these issues keep on coming and farmers continue to lose money to these bogus schemes,” he said. “Crooks are taking advantage of farmers because they know that farmers are desperate but we are saying that should stop. All our affected members should come to our offices to report so that we open investigations.”
