The
meat,
believed
to
have
been
smuggled
from
South
Africa
and
destined
for
Harare,
was
seized
at
the
30km
peg
from
Masvingo
near
Mushagashe
Training
Centre
along
the
Masvingo-Harare
Road.
Masvingo
City
Council’s
Public
Relations
Officer,
Ashleigh
Jinjika,
confirmed
the
operation
to TellZim
News,
saying
that
the
intercepted
meat
had
no
veterinary
clearance
or
supporting
documentation
and
was
therefore
considered
unfit
for
human
consumption.
The
consignment
was
destroyed
at
Cambria
Landfill
under
the
supervision
of
municipal
health
inspectors
and
a
veterinary
team.
Said
Jinjika:
The
meat
had
no
proper
veterinary
clearance
and
documentation,
was
deemed
unsafe
for
human
consumption
and
posed
a
serious
public
health
risk.The
importation
of
meat
is
illegal
so
we
confiscate
to
safeguard
the
community
from
GMOs
and
also
protect
our
local
market
because
smuggled
goods
are
usually
stolen
and
do
not
pay
duty
so
they
become
cheap.Council
urges
residents
and
vendors
to
only
source
meat
from
licensed
and
inspected
suppliers
to
ensure
community
safety
and
prevent
the
spread
of
diseases
and
we
remain
committed
to
protecting
public
health
through
strict
enforcement
of
food
safety
standards.
Chicken
cuts
smuggled
from
South
Africa
are
increasingly
dominating
menus
at
local
restaurants,
backyard
food
outlets,
and
fast-food
chains
across
Zimbabwe,
posing
a
serious
public
health
risk.
In
April
2025,
the
Zimbabwe
Anti-Corruption
Commission
(ZACC)
intercepted
a
truck
carrying
four
tonnes
of
suspected
smuggled
chicken
near
Mahusekwa
in
Mashonaland
East.
The
consignment
is
believed
to
have
entered
the
country
illegally
through
the
Beitbridge
Border
Post.
Seven
people
were
arrested
in
connection
with
the
incident.