Bulawayo city officials have expressed growing concerns over the safety of food products sold in sublet grocery shops following reports of food poisoning in neighbouring South Africa, which has claimed the lives of at least 23 children.
Ward 28 Councillor, Ntandoyenkosi Ndlovu, voiced his concerns during a recent Full Council Meeting, questioning the measures the city council is implementing to make sure food sold in these fast-growing mini-grocery shops is safe for consumption.
Cllr Ndlovu noted many of these shops source their products from South Africa, raising fears that unsafe food items could make their way into the local market.
He added there is a need for urgency in regulating the products sold to residents to prevent a potential health crisis in Bulawayo.
“In South Africa this issue has become a public health emergency. They have recorded a high number of deaths of children caused by food they buy from spaza shops,” remarked Cllr Ndlovu.
“We are worried as a city because we know that most of the stuff that we sell in these grocery shops and tuck shops are products that we buy from the neighbouring country. What measures has the responsible committee taken to ensure that the food products sold in these shops are suitable and safe.”
Since September this year, South Africa has witnessed a surge in food poisoning cases, with approximately 890 people, including numerous children, falling ill with symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhoea and abdominal pain.
The crisis has drawn significant public health attention, particularly as 23 children have tragically lost their lives due to suspected food contamination.
Authorities in South Africa are currently investigating the source of the outbreak, which has been linked to food products sold in informal markets and small-scale shops, similar to the sublet grocery stores operating in Bulawayo.
South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa is on record saying the cause is believed to be a pesticide used by business owners and vendors to fight a rat infestation in neglected townships. The country has since declared the crisis a health emergency.
A member of the Health, Housing and Education Committee, Ward 2 Cllr Rendani Moyo, allayed the fears, noting the city council is making frantic efforts to make sure all operations pertaining to food safety are above board.
“We are making concerted and frantic efforts to make sure there is adequate enforcement of the law to regulate the activities at these locations. We also have environmental health personnel to inspect all outlets to ensure that operations are above board,” Cllr Moyo said.
“If you are a food handler there are rules and regulations you must abide by. Even in the operations of buying and selling groceries and food products, there are specifications that regulate all those who operate in the city. While South Africa is one of our biggest trading partners as a city, we need to be on high alert to make sure all operations are above board.”
Last month the councillors raised concerns about mushrooming street food vendors who sell food especially at drinking spots, using gas cylinders to prepare it.
They noted that such conduct exposes residents to potential diseases hence the illegal vendors must be brought to book.
