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Bulawayo residents flag dangerous meat products

By Ndumiso Tshuma

Residents of Sunninghill, Bulawayo, have raised serious concerns about the sale of spoiled meat and mislabelled meat products by local vendors.

Allegations include vendors repackaging rotten meat and falsely labelling it as beef, prompting calls for urgent intervention from health authorities.

Given Sibanda, a Sunninghill resident, voiced his concerns about the deteriorating quality of meat being sold in the area. He described instances where meat was left to rot on vendor premises, displaying visible signs of decay and an unpleasant odour. Sibanda also accused some suppliers of attempting to pass off spoiled meat as fresh by repackaging it.

“I’ve seen local vendors taking rotten meat, putting it in new containers, and adding fake labels and packaging to trick people into buying it. This isnโ€™t just about a few bad cuts โ€“ itโ€™s a serious health risk. Rotten meat is being sold in plain sight, and itโ€™s disturbing. We must protect our community from this unsafe food,โ€ said Sibanda.

Hubert Zikhali, another resident, shared his disappointment and concern about the health risks posed by consuming mislabeled meat.

โ€œI trusted these vendors to sell good food for our families because we know many of them personally. To find out that what I bought might not even be beef is unacceptable. Some of us canโ€™t afford to go to town every day, so we rely on local vendors for daily necessities. This betrayal is hard to take,โ€ said Zikhali.

Loveness Ngwane recounted a troubling experience when she purchased what she believed was beef for a family gathering.

โ€œI cooked the meat, and when my family tasted it, they were horrified. It didnโ€™t taste anything like beef. I had to throw it away. How can we trust what weโ€™re feeding our children if vendors are selling meat that might make them sick?โ€ said Ngwane.

Councillor Ntombizodwa Khumalo, Chairperson of the Health, Housing, and Education Committee, in the Bualwayo City Council (BCC) urged residents to stop buying meat from local vendors amid alarming reports of unsafe practices.

โ€œConsumers are strongly advised to purchase meat only from established butcheries to ensure quality and safety. Recent incidents reveal some vendors are selling donkey meat and other potentially harmful products. This poses serious health risks and undermines food safety. We encourage residents to report such practices to local authorities immediately. Upon receiving reports, we will conduct thorough investigations and hold offenders accountable,โ€ said Cllr Khumalo.

Khumalo also noted that meat from unregulated sources often bypasses inspections by the Bulawayo City Council Health Department.

โ€œRegistered companies undergo regular inspections, including checks on food handlers. We urge the public to avoid purchasing food from unregistered entities. These illegal sources not only compromise food quality but may also spread dangerous zoonotic diseases such as anthrax. Strong measures will be taken against such violations,โ€ Cllr Khumalo added.

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