The animals will support agricultural activities in the district, and are part of the government's efforts at rebuilding the country's livestock herd that was drastically reduced during the war of destabilisation.
The animals were acquired in the neighbouring province of Tete for 290,000 new meticais (about 11,600 US dollars), which came from the seven million meticais that the central government allocated to each district this year.
The cattle went to 25 households. According to district administrator Jaime Gero, each of the beneficiaries must pay 2,400 meticais, and after the animals have reproduced hand over two calves. These will then be delivered to other farmers in Macossa, to allow the restocking programme to continue.
At the Wednesday ceremony, Maria Guebuza urged the beneficiaries to look after their animals properly, and to obey the timetable for payment established by the livestock authorities.
Macossa district now has 208 head of cattle, but the main source of animal protein is goats: the district is known to have at least 3,570 of these animals.
SOURCE: AIM
