BULAWAYO A health hazard is developing in some of Bulawayos high-density suburbs, where traders are killing livestock in unhygienic conditions and selling the meat to residents.All meat displayed for sale should be from a registered abattoir and inspected by authorities from registered animal health institutions. The city council has recently recruited more rangers to combat illegal slaughtering.
The council is worried by the mushrooming of backyard butcheries in the high density suburbs. Residents are at risk of contracting rabies, anthrax, influenza or rift valley fever, said Nesisa Mpofu from the city council.
A kilo of beef costs between US$2 and US$4 at registered butcheries in the city, but half that much in backyard butcheries.
Residents have also expressed concern about the sources of water that meat vendors use at their abattoirs, including an algae-filled shallow well near Tshabalala community hall.
Mpofu warned the illegal meat traders that her council would arrest anyone found flouting the citys bylaws.
The newly appointed rangers are also trying to stop the cutting down of trees for firewood at council farms, which could cause environmental problems in the future. Residents are stealing the wood because of power cuts. By Zwanai Sithole
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