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Fairness Moyana in Hwange
POLICE in Hwange last week confiscated more than 480 kilogrammes of meat, which was destroyed by burning, from butcheries that were selling uninspected meat.
The meat was confiscated under an operation code-named “Operation: Restore Sanity in meat hygiene Phase One’’ which was spearheaded by the Ministry of Health and Child Care. Stakeholders who included the Department of Veterinary Services and health inspectors from Hwange Colliery Company (HCCL), National Railways of Zimbabwe, and Hwange Local Board descended on butcheries in Empumalanga and Colliery concession where they confiscated the meat.
Acting District Medical Officer, Dr Fungai Musinami said the operation was conducted to safeguard public health and bring normalcy in the handling of animals for slaughter within the district.
“The operation was meant to ensure meat that is destined for public consumption is registered and slaughtered in registered abattoirs. It was also meant to check if those selling the meat had licences,” said Dr Musinami.
He said the operation also revealed that there were a number of butcheries who were selling uninspected meat, lacking general premise and personnel hygiene with food handlers lacking medical examination certificates. Most of the butcheries also had no appropriate personal protective clothing or equipment to handle meat.
Hwange District had for sometime been operating without a registered abattoir, a situation has seen butcheries and individuals using unregistered ways of slaughtering such as under trees.
Online Reporter