News / National
Masvingo City destroys 1,6t of chicken
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The Masvingo City Council last Friday destroyed 1.6 tonnes of chicken smuggled into Zimbabwe from South Africa without veterinary clearance, declaring the consignment unfit for human consumption.
Council spokesperson Ashleigh Jinjika confirmed the operation, which took place at Cambria Landfill, where the meat was burnt under strict supervision in accordance with the Public Health Act.
The illegal consignment, believed to be en route to Harare, was intercepted 30km outside Masvingo near Mushagashe Training Centre along the Masvingo-Harare Highway.
According to officials, the intercepted truck lacked refrigeration and carried hard-frozen chicken chunks wrapped in plastic - a method of storage and transportation that violated multiple provisions of the Food Standards Act.
"The meat had no veterinary clearances or documentation. We don't know what the meat was exposed to, and its packaging and labelling fell short of basic food safety requirements," said a health official involved in the seizure.
Authorities suspect the meat was genetically modified (GMO) chicken from South Africa, a cheaper alternative increasingly popular among some local restaurants, backyard food outlets, and fast-food chains seeking to cut costs.
The council also revealed that cardboard boxes containing the chicken bore names and phone numbers of intended recipients, indicating the meat may have been part of a wider illegal distribution network.
Jinjika urged the public to exercise caution and only buy meat from licensed and inspected suppliers.
"This is a serious health concern. Residents and vendors should only source meat from certified suppliers to protect consumers and prevent disease outbreaks," she said.
The incident adds to growing concerns over food safety in Zimbabwe, especially amid rising cases of illegal food imports driven by economic pressures and weak enforcement.
Council spokesperson Ashleigh Jinjika confirmed the operation, which took place at Cambria Landfill, where the meat was burnt under strict supervision in accordance with the Public Health Act.
The illegal consignment, believed to be en route to Harare, was intercepted 30km outside Masvingo near Mushagashe Training Centre along the Masvingo-Harare Highway.
According to officials, the intercepted truck lacked refrigeration and carried hard-frozen chicken chunks wrapped in plastic - a method of storage and transportation that violated multiple provisions of the Food Standards Act.
"The meat had no veterinary clearances or documentation. We don't know what the meat was exposed to, and its packaging and labelling fell short of basic food safety requirements," said a health official involved in the seizure.
Authorities suspect the meat was genetically modified (GMO) chicken from South Africa, a cheaper alternative increasingly popular among some local restaurants, backyard food outlets, and fast-food chains seeking to cut costs.
The council also revealed that cardboard boxes containing the chicken bore names and phone numbers of intended recipients, indicating the meat may have been part of a wider illegal distribution network.
Jinjika urged the public to exercise caution and only buy meat from licensed and inspected suppliers.
"This is a serious health concern. Residents and vendors should only source meat from certified suppliers to protect consumers and prevent disease outbreaks," she said.
The incident adds to growing concerns over food safety in Zimbabwe, especially amid rising cases of illegal food imports driven by economic pressures and weak enforcement.
Source - Mirror
