15 city shops operating without licences

Bulawayo City Council's health departments has arrested and fined 15 city shops for operating without operating licences.

This has been established in the latest council minutes.

Director of Health Services Zanele Hwalima reported that Inspection of Residential and Business Premises Routine inspections of business premises as well as response to public health complaints continued.

"A blitz on shops still operating without shop licences was done and was currently underway. So far a total of 106 premises were visited, out of these 15 were found without licences and were deposit fined," she said.

"During the month also 5 statements were drafted and sent to the Zimbabwe Republic Police to assist in prosecuting various offenders. A total of 13 statutory notices were served to premises whose water was disconnected."

The minutes states that three of the premises had since restored water supplies and statements were being done to prosecute the other 10.

"A voluntary condemnation was done where approximately half a ton of flour was disposed of because it was unwholesome. A condemnation carried out at a supermarket saw the disposal of 20 kg of margarine, 77 kg flour and 8 litres soft drinks," states the minutes.

"A total of 177 water samples were sent for bacteriological analysis. Results of 152 samples were satisfactory. The rest were still pending."

The department also established that a total of 7 of 14 dairy food samples collected during the month were unsatisfactory.

"Remedial action was taken as usual," reads the minutes.

"Two of the 6 food premises swabbed during the month had unsatisfactory results. Health and hygiene education had been given to food handlers at the affected outlets. Swimming Pools Monitoring. A total of 20 chemical and 20 bacteriological samples were collected from 1 municipal and 19 private swimming pools during the month. Results of the 20 bacteriological samples were satisfactory. Results for the chemical analysis were still pending."