The local labour supply from surrounding communities has been wonderful. Fabwell has enjoyed pleasant, hardworking labour forces at all ranch locations which has complemented perfect ranching land to ensure certain success of the project. In each location we have endeavoured to find the original senior staff employees who have been invaluable in locating original roads, pipelines and fences. General hands have come from the surrounding communities and are happy to work well as employment has become difficult to find in Zimbabwe. Fabwell intends to train workers and increase productivity and efficiency in the day to day work. A horse and dog breeding program at the Norton ranch will add value on all ranches. This improved productivity will allow incremental increase in wages and alleviate poverty in the communities surrounding the ranches.
Fabwell has embarked on a massive, very modern approach to the reestablishment of a number of significant large tracts of ranching land, which have been denuded, derelict or underutilized for more than two decades. These properties are situated in various Agricultural regions within Zimbabwe.
All the properties have required refurbishment and renovation of staff and management accommodation. The level to which these homesteads had been vandalised is extensive. None of the properties to date has any ZESA connection within feasible range, as the level of vandalism was beyond viable resuscitation. All sites have therefore needed large solar power installations, sufficient to electrify the manager's homestead and associated surroundings, workshops, offices, pumps and security. Re-wiring was required in all buildings. Window frames and doors, painting, ceilings and in most cases the roof needed to be replaced. Staff accommodation is also being upgraded and maintained. Blair toilets are in the process of being built.
Roads have been reconstructed, cambered and mitre drains situated in the correct locations. All the bridges and culverts are in the process of being repaired.
Unfortunately, very few water distribution points were operational at the time of occupation. We have had to drill new Boreholes, clean blocked holes or devise systems to efficiently extract water from available sources. Pipelines to all reservoirs and cattle drinking points have all had to be replaced meter by meter. Often the bush has so encroached on the former pipelines, that considerable expense was incurred to locate them.
Wire had almost entirely been stolen or rusted away on all ranches prior to Fabwell's occupation, together with all steel works. The bush encroachment from decades of lack of maintenance has necessitated heavy equipment to clear the original fence lines, water points and handling facilities to allow site access.
The cattle handling facilities on all the properties were badly deteriorated and had to be reconstructed. The plunge dips have all been repaired and cattle are now able to be scheduled for their dipping program. Roofs in most cases have been replaced.
We have established a small manufacturing workshop of our own at the Norton farm purchasing raw steel and fabricating modular cattle handling facilities for all the ranches. This has been extremely cost beneficial compared with purchasing ready-made components.
Fabwell existing herd of 4050 head as at September 2019 is predominantly made up of young breeding females. We intend exposing upwards of 2700 mature females to the breeding program this coming 2019/20 season.
All cattle are ear tagged with both a large visual identification tag and an electronic blue tooth enabled tag. These animals can therefore be easily registered and stock take done both manually or electronically for which we have all the relevant equipment and software on site at each ranch.
The regional drought of 2019 turned out to be a blessing for Fabwell as we were able to source excellent breeding stock in Namibia and South Africa, which would not normally have been available for sale. Only the best genetically superior breeding heifers and bulls are sourced and imported.
The Norton herd has two Studs registered with the Zimbabwe Herd book, Ntunteni Tuli Stud. This is now the biggest Tuli stud in Zimbabwe with a very wide genetic base. We breed our own Stud bulls here which then get sent out to other properties as the breeding requirements dictate.
Ntunteni Limousine Stud. Norton commercial herd has a proven track record and is well established. 600 imported Bonsmara heifers in 2019 will be bred with Tuli bulls.
Maphaneni herd is almost exclusively derived from imported Namibian heifers in 2015. Here we have a very structured cross breeding program using Brahman, Tuli and Angus Genetics.
Dubane has 220 Imported Bonsmara and Boervelder heifers and an additional 130 own bred heifers going to the breeding program with Tuli bulls. The balance of stock here is currently yearling steers that were moved there to alleviate grazing pressure from the main breeding ranches due to the current drought.
Over 95% of the females are under five years old. This is a very young herd with up to 10 years of potential breeding ahead of them. It would be very hard to replace such large numbers considering the factors at play in Zimbabwe and regionally.
We have taken every precaution to ensure our herds are protected. Currently, all our properties are situated in the GREEN, foot and mouth free zones, therefore herds are not vaccinated for foot and mouth.
All cattle follow strict deworming programs according to seasonal requirements. Dipping is through a plunge dip using a synthetic Pyrethroid with a biting fly repellent. Dipping is done bi-weekly until the rains and it is then adjusted to weekly dipping. Dip chemical samples are taken twice a year for analysis to check stripping effect of active Acracide and rectification strengths adjusted accordingly.
Imported cattle, having gone through stringent Quarantine procedures prior to arrival on Ranches, are then isolated again for several weeks. They are monitored daily to identify potential sick animals if any. On a very strict 18 day cycle all animals are administered a small dose of antibiotic to boost their immune resistance to the local tick diseases found within our areas. This is a given and has been instrumental in reducing mortality to an absolute minimum.
Considerable effort has been put into acquiring correct fire fighting equipment. A number of high pressure mobile bakkie and tractor drawn units are on standby throughout the fire season. All units have water tanks and additional bowsers on standby. Every unit has a high pressure delivery pump, either tractor PTO driven or auxiliary generator unit with high pressure hose to allow access to the fire without the driver operator and equipment being endangered. We also have smaller manual portable units to reach less accessible regions.
This was Fabwell's first priority. Most of the second hand equipment within Zimbabwe has not been maintained properly and certainly seen better years. Therefore it was decided to buy new John Deer Tractors and Toyota pickups for each ranch. Although the initial capital required was significant, this was definitely the best choice as the result is almost zero down time associated with repairs and maintenance, which is crucial given the remote locations of the ranches.
Diesel water pumping units have all been replaced with solar installations, also requiring much less repair and maintenance. Once again, although costing more initially, the ensuing saving on fuelling, repairs and maintenance have quickly recouped this outlay.
Frequently Asked Questions
To invest with Mombe Mari please contact any of the following people and they will get your investment sorted.
ted@silverback.co.zw
andrew@silverback.co.zw
gamu@silverback.co.zw
paul@silverback.co.zw
The minimum investment amount is $5000USD payable in RTGS.
The website used to ascertain free market rate of exchange between local currency (RTGS ZWL) and United States Dollars at the time of investment or redemption is https://www.marketwatch.co.zw.
Apart from hedging investment against the world price of beef, interest is earned at rates ranging from 4% to 8% per annum (depending on value and period of investment) and compounded monthly.
6 Months
Fabwell Farming (Private) Limited, trading as ‘Mombe Mari’ (Hereinafter ‘Fabwell’) is offering an alternative, unique opportunity to invest in a large scale beef breeding company and receive full benefits of secured currency depreciation protection and real value growth, leaving the management of underlying operations to successful specialists.
In essence Fabwell’s investment product offering is a commodity denominated, fixed return, secured debenture. The main attraction is that Fabwell will take local RTGS/ZWL investment (expended in farming operations) and convert into a secure debenture representing a certain number of kilograms of live cattle, earning a fixed return in kilograms
An investor’s money is immediately converted from local currency into United States Dollars and then into kilograms of beef at world price plus 1% upon investing.
Apart from hedging investment against the world price of beef, interest is earned at rates ranging from 4% to 8% per annum (depending on value and period of investment) and compounded monthly.
Upon redeeming investments, payment will be made at world price less 1%, once again multiplied by the free market rate of local currency (RTGS ZWL).
The website used to ascertain free market rate of exchange between local currency (RTGS ZWL) and United States Dollars at the time of investment or redemption is https://www.marketwatch.co.zw.
The website is used to obtain the average world live cattle price in United States Dollars at the time of investment or redemption is https://markets.businessinsider.com/commodities/live-cattle-price.
Yes you can.
The website used to ascertain free market rate of exchange between local currency (RTGS ZWL) and United States Dollars at the time of investment or redemption is https://www.marketwatch.co.zw.
We are running 3 ranches currently.
Norton
Dubane ( Near Gwanda )
Mapaneni ( Kezi District )
When you redeem your investment you cannot take your cattle out.
It is argued that fiat currency based investments create illusions of wealth, whereas commodity based investments provide clarity as the results are tangible and reflect actual asset value. Historically, in Africa, people have always measured and kept wealth in cattle. An investment, which locks value in internationally recognized commodities, which are easily redeemable, resonates well with the economic psyche of the continent. The intrinsic value of beef in Africa is unquestionable, thus an investment denominated in kilograms of live beef is undoubtedly sound and stable.
60,000+
