Online Reporter
Peter Matika, [email protected]
THE Bulawayo City Council has intensified its crackdown on illegal businesses and unsafe food trading operations following the discovery of 1,5 tonnes of rotten elephant meat at Hillside Junior School and seizure of nearly 128 kilogrammes of uninspected beef at a Barbourfields butchery.
The alarming discoveries were made during routine inspections conducted by council health officials, who also uncovered widespread licensing, hygiene and public health violations across the city, raising concerns over food safety and consumer protection.
A council report presented to the Health, Housing and Education Committee revealed that council health inspectors conducted 1 715 inspections in April, resulting in the issuance of 66 intimations and numerous tickets to businesses found operating outside the law.
The inspections exposed a worrying trend of businesses operating without valid shop licences, registration certificates and liquor licences in both the central business district and residential suburbs.
Among the violations uncovered were illegal kitchens, unregistered butcheries, unauthorised bottle stores, restaurants operating without registration and supermarkets trading without council approval.
Several food outlets were also cited for poor hygiene standards, inadequate food handling facilities and unsafe food preparation practices.
Council inspectors found businesses operating kitchens without registration certificates, restaurants trading without licences, food premises lacking hot water and some establishments storing food under unhygienic conditions.
Others were found preparing food in the open thereby exposing consumers to contamination risks.
The report also highlighted significant concerns regarding food safety.
During routine inspections, council condemned substantial quantities of food products deemed unsafe for human consumption.
Among the condemned items were expired beverages, dented canned goods, improperly labelled food products, spoiled meat and illegally packaged foodstuffs.
Particularly alarming was the destruction of 1 500kg of rotten elephant meat discovered at Hillside Junior School.
Health officials declared the meat unfit for human consumption after finding it spoiled and aesthetically unsound.
At Barbourfields Butchery, inspectors condemned nearly 128 kilogrammes of beef after determining that it was uninspected and unwholesome.
Other businesses were found selling expired yoghurt, cooking oil repackaged into unsuitable containers and food products with damaged packaging or obliterated expiry dates.
The committee also received reports from residents concerning illegal bottle stores, illegal kitchens, and an increasing number of unlicensed butcheries operating in suburbs such as Cowdray Park.
Investigations conducted by council confirmed several complaints, prompting plans for interdepartmental blitz operations targeting offenders.
Councillors expressed concern over the proliferation of informal and illegal trading activities, which they said were contributing to litter, poor sanitation and deteriorating public health conditions.
The latest findings come as council seeks to improve public health standards and ensure businesses comply with municipal by-laws designed to protect residents from unsafe food and unhygienic trading environments.
