Police close 75 butcheries

curb illegal meat vending.
Under the blitz code-named “Operation Nyama Yabvepi/Inyama Uyithethe Ngapi Number 3,” which started on June 12 this year, police are targeting people selling meat products without proper documents.
Police also recovered 74 cattle and many kilogrammes of meat products. They also collected admission of guilt fines worth US$13 340.
Anti-Stock Theft National co-ordinator, Assistant Commissioner Benard Dumbura, last Friday said during the operation, police raided abattoirs, butcheries and food outlets breaking the law.
“We checked for butcheries and abattoirs for un inspected meat products in stock. We recovered 121kg pork, 4kg fish, 166kg beef, 20kg chicken were condemned by health inspectors during the operation,” he said.
The blitz also targeted illegal meat and food vendors in high-density areas in all cities.
Asst Comm Dumbura warned members not to turn their houses into butcheries.
“We urge the public to shun un inspected meat from the informal sources and they should report any illegal activities concerning livestock or produce to the nearest police station,” he said.
During the operation, Asst Comm Dumbura, said police were also targeting people who slaughtered cattle under trees instead of registered slaughter houses.
Operation Nyama Yabvepi/ Inyama Uyithethe Ngapi also monitored transportation of livestock in contravention of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act.
“We monitored the movement of livestock and carcasses without requisite documentation such as the police livestock clearance certificate, carcass movement permit and the vet movement permit among other documents,” he said.
Asst Comm Dumbura said that the operation would continue.
He noted that the operation was a vital tool for them to curb illegal butcheries and meat vending, which was on the increase in the country.
“We are warning illegal meat vendors that if they continue with their trade the long arm of the law will catch up with them,” he said.
Last year in December under the same operation, 98 cattle rustlers were arrested, 130 butcheries and 98 food outlets were closed while 309 cattle were recovered.