Katima Mulilo
Cattle farmers in Zambezi have rejected Meatco’s imminent introduction of mobile slaughter units.
In a two-page document presented to the office of the regional governor, Lawrence Sampofu, farmers under the newly established Zambezi Meat Corporation (Zamco) rejected the proposed introduction of mobile slaughter in the region, expected to start by the end of July.
Robert Mapenzi, who is a prominent cattle farmer and member of the steering committee of Zamco, stated that the company was recently established to serve as a remedy to farmers in the region after Meatco closed its doors in the region a few years back, without a satisfactory explanation.
“Whenever you intend to close your business you have to inform people, but when Meatco pulled out they never informed farmers and now when they want to come back they didn’t inform us as well,” lamented Mapenzi.
Mapenzi further stated that Zamco plans to take over the operations of Katima Mulilo abattoir which was previously occupied by Meatco, and so create employment for locals.
“We have expressed our interest to the ministry of agriculture and once we are awarded the tender we will start with the process,” said Mapenzi.
Mapenzi said the company already has support from all the four traditional authorities in the region, and about 113 farmers have already been registered. He stated they have already secured a market in neighbouring countries Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Mapenzi claimed if Meatco’s mobile slaughter is allowed in the region it will create a health hazard and will also not provide permanent employment.
“If the corporation carries the interests of the government and those of former employees, the management should have opted for a more economically and socially benefitting approach to revitalise the operations of the abattoir, other than to purchase a mobile slaughter machine which is only operated by less than five people,” stressed Mapenzi.
Mapenzi also stressed that farmers in Zambezi Region continue to question the legitimacy of Meatco’s past operations as the corporation had set an obligation standard and requirement that all animals to be sold to the abattoir must go through the quarantine system, whereby cattle are kept for a period of 21 days before being slaughtered.
“But the mobile slaughtering machine slaughters on the spot, with no emphasis on quarantine requirements. What was the purpose of the quarantine in the past, and why are quarantines seemingly losing relevance with the introduction of mobile slaughter?” questioned Mapenzi.
Contacted for comment, Rosa Tobias from Meatco confirmed that the system of mobile slaughter will soon be introduced in the Zambezi and the country at large. However, she did not share more light on the matter, stating that the mobile slaughter machine is still on its way and once it arrives in the country a media briefing will be arranged to explain how the machine operates.