The Matetsi Committee report, 1969 / [A.D. Fraser, chairman].

  • Southern Rhodesia. Matetsi Committee.
Date:
1970
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: The Matetsi Committee report, 1969 / [A.D. Fraser, chairman]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    6/188 (page 2)
    -2 ad The Natural Resources Board, at its 250th meeting, resolved that these recommendations be transmitted, with its full support, to the Ministry of Lands. In so doing the Board requested that they be brought to the attention of the Rural Land Board when that Board considered the future of the Matetsi area. : The Rural Land Board's sub-committee visited the Matetsi area in March, 1969, and presented its report in April. Inter alia the sub-committee reported as follows :- The first thing to manifest itself wes the complete lack of cohesive effort in the arer ond petty squabbles among the settlers; the game ranchers versus the cattle fermers, the poor cattle farmers against the rich settlers, the r-ilwsy employees who wanted lend because other settlers h-d m n-ged to Bet extra Land secoses There was very little successful development considering the thousands of ecres already alienated and, although here and there a slight ray of optimism showed, on the whole the area did not portray a successful agricultural complex. It became increasingly evident that successful settlement of the area would only be achieved by the successful marrying up of game cropping and cattle ranching with some (crop) growing where there was irrigation potential and/or other suitable grow- ing conditions. Some of the 'T's ranches which are presently vacant and also most of the surrounding land are more suited to game ranching than cattle ranches and it would appear that in fact bo.i-types of ranching should be done by most people. However, from the game ranching and cropping point of view there is one tremendous problem and that is the ability to correctly assess the game availability in the area so as to issue cropping permits to all concerned, whilst ensuring that the game is not drasticaily depleted, completely wiped out or driven away from the erea. Also game cropping is a skilled trade and to give cropping permits to all ranchers would invariably have the same effect and also put out of business the bona fide game ranchers already in existence. The effect on National Parks and the tourist industry could be disastrous, National Parks have not the staff and machinery to carry out a proper game assessment and, in fact, issue Cropping Permits on the farmer's own assessment of the game on his own ranch, More than likely his neighbours would apply for a permit the follaving week by which time the game would have moved on to. the neighbour's farm. So it will be appreci-ted thet this problem should be sorted out before recommending the settlement, or partial settlement, of the area on » geome rrnching besis. Some peice ment to abolish the Falls Netional Perk - others want to extend it. The cattle in the area looked good considering that they had to be kraaled every night ond it would be interesting to compare them if they had free renge during the night. The report of the sub-committee was considered by the Rural Land Board at its 60th meeting held on the 17th April, 1969. The Board recommended that = *Denotes land originally earmarked for Tobacco Units.