[Mail and Globe] Zimbabwe has reassured food giant Nestlé on the safety of its staff after a dispute on buying milk from President Robert Mugabe's farm prompted the firm to suspend operations, a minister said on Friday. | Then I believe them. Of course, I'm gullible... |
"Welshman, dey need to buy deir milk from Genco Pura Dairies! Make them an offer they can't refuse!"
Nestlé in October stopped buying milk from the Mugabe farm, which was seized from white farmers under his controversial land reforms. "For its part, government has given its assurance on the safety of staff and management at both Nestlé Zimbabwe and Gushungo Dairies," Ncube said.
"It'd be a terrible t'ing if something happened to your staff and management, wouldn't it? I'm sure Mr. Nestlé would be very unhappy!"
"You wouldn't...?"
"No, no! Cert'nly not! But if some person or persons unknown should...?"
"As a result of those consultations, the parties have collectively reached an understanding to work together in ensuring that milk produced at Gushungo Dairies is absorbed by the local dairy processors."
"Okay. Okay. I guess milk's milk. It all tastes the same, after all!"
"Genco Pura Milk only costs a little more!"
Nestlé Zimbabwe chairperson Kumbirai Katsande confirmed having met with Ncube and other government officials. "We met with the government and did receive a letter from government and relayed its contents to the company principals," said Katsande.
"Mr. Nestlé! We have a letter for you from Zimbabwe! It was wrapped around a fish!"
"We have responded to the minister's letter," Katsande said, declining to give further details. The Swiss-based food giant, the world's largest, said Zimbabwean government officials and police made an "unannounced visit" to the plant on Saturday, forcing staff to take delivery of a tanker of milk from non-contracted suppliers, apparently from Mugabe's farm.