A new evil is rearing its ugly head in the meat business! Some
abattoirs, butcheries and illegal meat traders are putting the lives of the
public at risk by selling contaminated meat, The Sunday Mail Society has
established.
Late last year, authorities had to close several butcheries
after this publication unearthed rampant use of embalming chemicals as meat
preservatives to counter the adverse effects of load-shedding.
This time, it is even worse. Sunday Mail investigations
indicate some greedy farmers that are losing cattle to January Disease
(Theileriosis) and anthrax, are quickly directing the carcasses to the market
for human consumption.
With over 50 000 cattle having been lost to a combination
of the aforementioned diseases since last year, livestock owners are finding it
difficult to come to terms with outright loss of their investments.
Thus, in some instances, they are disposing cattle that
start showing signs of infection to unsuspecting meat traders.
Some of the farmers and traders are actually conniving to
sell carcases or disease-ridden cattle.
Statistics show that close to 100 people were hospitalised
countrywide in January for health complications that developed after consuming
meat from unofficial sources.
In most instances the meat was anthrax infected.
According to health experts anthrax symptoms in humans
depend on how one is infected. They can range from skin sores, to vomiting and
shock.
Prompt treatment with antibiotics can cure most anthrax
infections though inhaled anthrax is difficult to treat and can be fatal.
A Mashonaland East-based meat dealer, who preferred
anonymity, confirmed that unorthodox trade practices were taking place.
“I personally have been working with the veterinary office
for some time now. In fact, I have come to understand that not every disease
that affects cattle is harmful to humans. Thus, I use discretion inspired by
experience every time. It would be unfortunate to dispose, without gain, cattle
that die, say of because of a tick-borne disease, for it does not affect humans
if consumed,” said the meat dealer.
However, chief director for preventive services in the
Ministry of Health and Child Care, Dr Gibson Mhlanga, quickly dismissed these
sentiments by the meat trader.
“People should not be tempted to consume dead or infected
cattle because of greed. It creates serious health complications that at times
have a fatal ending especially if the animal died because of a disease like
anthrax. Instead they should report any cases of infected or dead animals to
the nearest veterinary department so that they get proper assistance,” said Dr
Mhlanga.
The Government official added that they were cognisant of
the fact that some unscrupulous dealers were involved in the illegal meat
trade, particularly those affected by disease.
“The veterinary department and other relevant authorities
like police, environment and health officers have been assigned to effectively
deal with this matter. We are also doing awareness campaigns in different
communities aimed at highlighting the dangers of consuming or selling of
contaminated meat,” said Dr Mhlanga.
A Hwedza farmer, Mr Takunda Mandaza’s recent attempt to
offload infected beasts to a local abattoir were thwarted by Veterinary
Services Department officials.
The farmer considered the decision to be “sabotage aimed at
making him incur losses due to death”.
Another case involves a reputable butchery (name withheld)
in Harare that was recently raided by the police and health inspectors. This
was after a concerned citizen had tipped law enforcers that the owner had
acquired infected cattle from a nearby village.
Often the filthy meat stock is sold under the “special
offer” tag so that it quickly vanishes from the coldrooms before meat
inspectors can be alerted.
Equally, the number of people selling “cheap” meat products
on street pavements, car boots or in high-density areas has increased over the
past months.
Just last week, Friday night to be precise, there was a red
Nissan X-Trail along Mbuya Nehanda Street selling beef.
Further down the street and on the pavement of a popular supermarket
were men and women selling different meat portions.
It was also the same case at Mbare Musika last Saturday
where a youthful woman was selling “affordable beef” stashed in a strikingly
dirty vessel.
The lady refused to reveal the source of her product after
we interrogated why it was astonishingly cheap by angrily retorting: “Muri kuda
nyama here or makutsvaga zvimwewo? (Are you after meat or something else?).
Her beef cuts were ranging between $20 and $35 per
kilogramme — slightly cheaper than the street prices in Harare’s central
business district that were around $40 per kilogramme.
The minimum average meat price for low grades in registered
retail outlets is around $60 per kilogramme. Interestingly, there are a number
of vendors with gas tanks around town that are selling roasted T-bone steak
pieces for as low as $15 when a similar portion costs not less than $40 in a
modest eatery.
What is disheartening, though, is the willingness of some
members of the public to expose their families to health hazards.
“What should I do? My kids have gone for weeks if not
months without eating meat. This is what I can afford,” said Mai Chantel in the
downtown area.
Efforts to get a comment from the Department of Veterinary
Services were futile as the director, Dr Josphat Nyika, was said to be out of
the country on official business.
An alternative contact person at the same department was
also not reachable.
However, the veterinary department is on record as saying:
“The sale of meat outside a registered butchery is an offence under the Public
Health Act that is administered by the Ministry of Health and Child Care. The
public is discouraged from buying meat at informal markets as they risk
contracting anthrax and other diseases.”
One of the leading abattoirs in Mashonaland East, Binder
Abattoir, is assisting Government to address the challenge.
“There are farmers offloading infected cattle on the
market. Accordingly, we have set aside some of our resources to assist in
killing and safely disposing of sick animals that cannot be treated in our area
to avoid further spread of disease as part of our community social
responsibility. We are burning the carcasses to prevent unscrupulous traders
from selling the meat for human consumption,” said Binder operations director
Jamie Nel. Sunday Mail
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