Private abbatoirs lose licences (11-07-07)

nternational Trade Minister, Obert Mpofu said the government parastatal, Cold Storage Company now has the monopoly of buying and slaughtering cattle for commercial purposes.

Private abbatoirs are among other commercial entities who suspended operations when the government ordered a price freeze on basic commodities and services last month.

President Robert Mugabe’s government ordered business to slash prices by at least 50 percent and revert back to prices they were charging prior to 18 June.

The operation was onstensibly meant to curb the activities of suspected economic sabbatours who,government claims were advancing a Western agenda aimed at toppling Mugabe’s Zanu Pf government.

The government ordered business to continue operating and threatened to cease all those businesses whose owners would defy the order.

Private abbaitors are among other entities who shelved operations citing arguing that the new prices were un-economical.

Said Mpofu,”The Taskforce has noted with grave concern that private abbatoirs recently stopped slaughtering cattle for reasons best known to themselves.Abbatoirs were granted with licenses to provide a service to the public, which they are nolonger providing.

“In view of this, government has thus with immediate effect revoked licenses of all private abbatoirs.The CSC immediately assumes the sole responsibility of slaughtering cattle.Any private abbatoir who wishes to resume operations should re-apply to the Taskforce”.

Meanwhile,the Taskforce has nabbed more than 400 business people under the ongoing blitz and most are to be charged in their individual capacities. – Mercy Mujuru