The Gwanda Rural District Council (GRDC) is set to introduce six new by-laws on health and environment, in line with section 88 of the Rural District Council (RDC) Act Chapter 29:13.
The bylaws will focus on informal traders, meat sales, slaughterhouses, mortuaries, boarding houses, and premise inspection.
The informal traders by-law seeks to ensure that all informal traders have vending permits. This will help to create a more orderly and sanitary environment for both traders and customers.
“Anyone who wants to sell anything, should apply and get a permit that they want to sell whether clothes or vegetables in a certain place, council will give you a stand where you are going to sell and you are given a permit,” said Vumani Ngulube, a council official, while introducing the proposed by-laws during a recent full council meeting.
The sale of meat bylaw seeks to ensure that people are selling meat without diseases. The bylaw will require all meat sellers to have a butchery and to obtain a permit from the council. Meat inspectors will also be monitoring butcheries to ensure that they are following safety regulations.
“This will also help curb stock theft,” said Ngulube. “For one to sell meat, they should have a permit, clearance and a letter showing where it was slaughtered.”
The slaughterhouse bylaw focuses on places where animals for consumption are slaughtered. The by-law will require all slaughterhouses to be licensed by the council and to have a meat inspector on staff.
The mortuary bylaw focuses on mortuaries and funeral parlours. The bylaw will require all mortuaries and funeral parlours to be licensed by the council and to meet certain safety standards.
The boarding houses bylaw looks at houses rented to learners and visitors in rural areas. The bylaw will require all boarding houses to be registered with the council and to meet certain safety standards, such as having enough toilets, water, and ventilation.
The premises inspection bylaw focuses on all areas used by people for public services. The bylaw will allow inspectors to inspect these areas for safety and sanitation violations.
