Online Reporter
Your Money, Your Call
Cresencia Marjorie Chiremba
A CURIOUS spike in frozen pet food sales at one branch of a local retailer recently sparked an internal investigation that has since morphed into one of the city’s most talked-about urban legends.
The story, which has made its rounds on social media and in commuter conversations, touches on food safety, ingenuity and the blurry line between fact and folklore.
It began with a routine review of inventory and sales data.
Management noticed that one particular product — frozen pet food — was selling at an unusually high rate compared to other branches.
The item, typically slow-moving and niche, had suddenly become a top seller.
Concerned about possible theft or mislabelling, the company’s loss control team was dispatched to the branch to investigate.
What they reportedly found was not theft, but a customer who regularly purchased large quantities of the pet food.
Surveillance confirmed the transactions were legitimate.
Still intrigued, the team decided to follow the individual to their next destination.
That trail led to Mbare, one of Harare’s oldest and most vibrant suburbs.
There, the story reportedly takes a strange turn.
According to circulating accounts, the customer was supplying the frozen pet food to a small pie-making operation.
The pies — sold at the irresistible price of “dollar for three” — were allegedly filled with the meat intended for pets.
The claim, though unverified, has ignited public debate.
Memes, voice notes and speculative posts have flooded social media, with some users swearing they will not eat street food, while others defended the hustle of informal traders.
“If it is true, it is disturbing,” one Facebook user wrote.
“But it also shows how desperate things have become.”
No formal statement has been issued by the alleged retail company involved and health authorities have not confirmed any investigation into the alleged pie operation.
Attempts to reach officials for comment were unsuccessful at the time of writing.
In Mbare, reactions are mixed.
Some vendors dismiss the story as gossip, while others worry about its impact on legitimate businesses.
“We use real beef and chicken,” said one pie seller near the market.
“But now customers look at us in a funny way . . . It is hurting our reputation.”
Food safety experts urge caution.
“Stories like these often reflect deeper anxieties about affordability and trust,” said one Harare-based nutritionist.
“But without evidence, we risk unfairly targeting informal vendors who are simply trying to survive.”
Some see the story as a cautionary tale.
Others view it as satire — a reflection of the absurdity and resilience that define daily life in the capital.
“Whether it is true or not, it is a reminder to ask questions. And maybe to think twice before buying three pies for a dollar,” said one commuter.
For now, the story remains unconfirmed — a blend of suspicion, humour and social commentary.
It has captured the public imagination and sparked conversations about food ethics, surveillance and survival.
As one Mbare resident put it, “Maybe it happened, maybe it did not. But you will never look at a cheap pie the same way again.”
Cresencia Marjorie Chiremba is a marketing, sales and customer service consultant. For suggestions and training, contact her on: [email protected] or +263 712 979 461, 0719 978 335, 0772 978 335.
