Online Reporter
Ivan Zhakata
Herald Correspondent
A HARARE social joint is facing possible closure following revelations that it may have been serving pet food to humans, prompting an urgent probe by City of Harare’s health authorities.
City of Harare director of health services Dr Prosper Chonzi yesterday said the municipality was moving in to investigate the establishment.
He said the joint could be shut down if found to be violating food safety regulations.
“We will definitely go and investigate and find out what is happening, with a view to either correcting the situation or closing the place,” he said.
The establishment, which operates a restaurant and bar on the ground floor and an upstairs bar in central Harare, has come under intense scrutiny amid claims that it has been selling pet food to customers.
Dr Chonzi described the allegations as deeply troubling and potentially dangerous to public health.
“I think it is really worrisome if people are being so uncultivated as to sell that kind of food to my unsuspecting clients. That is just not acceptable,” he said.
Dr Chonzi said all food outlets were bound by the Food and Food Standards Act and must adhere to strict hygiene and safety requirements at all times.
“There is a Food and Food Standards Act which must be adhered to at all times. It is totally unacceptable if standards are not being met,” he said.
The health chief said the matter was particularly concerning given the city’s vulnerability to communicable disease outbreaks.
“This is happening at a time when we are preparing for outbreaks such as typhoid, cholera and other diseases that occur in the city centre,” he said.
“It is a cause for concern. It is really catastrophic. We are exposing a lot of people.”
The investigation would go beyond the type of food being served and examine broader health compliance issues at the premises.
Said Dr Chonzi: “When you hear such comments, it might not just be about the food. There might be other issues. What is the situation with their toilets? What is their water source?
“What about their employees? Are they certified to handle food? Do they have valid medical certificates? Are they free from TB and other conditions?”.
Dr Chonzi also raised concerns about basic hygiene practices among food handlers.
“Do they wash their hands before handling food? These are serious issues. It opens a whole can of worms and we really need to go down to the bottom of it,” he said.
Dr Chonzi said he would immediately instruct his officers to begin inspections before the end of the week.
The City of Harare has intensified inspections of food outlets in recent months as part of efforts to prevent disease outbreaks and enforce compliance with public health laws.
