GOVERNMENT MULLS SUPERMARKET RAIDS

THE ministry of health is considering reintroducing raids on Supermarkets and food outlets in a bid to flush out substandard food products which have flooded the local market, this paper has learnt.

Briefing Journalists during a media workshop organised by the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR), environmental health director in the ministry of health Victor Nyamandi said government had long suspended raids on the retail industry a situation that has seen harmful food substances being sold to innocent citizens.

“After serious consideration, we will be reintroducing raids on Supermarkets and restaurants soon to ensure the health of our citizens is kept safe. I can’t remember when was the last time we had these raids but I can say its something that we are seriously looking into now.

“In urban areas, the raids used to be done by city councils, for example in Harare, the City Council would conduct the raids while the ministry of health would do the rural areas. There is something which is very common in most shops, if you go into a shop today, you see special offers on food items, but behind these special offers are expired dates, at times it will be some juice they would have bought in large quantities and failed to dispose and nearing expiry date,” said Nyamamandi.

He added that government has already commenced raids in most areas especially at areas around border posts.

“I cannot pre empty on how we will be conducting the raids but we might be carrying roadblocks in collaboration with police. If you go to areas around Mozambique, a lot of foods in Butcheries have labels in Portuguese.”

Meanwhile, Zimbabwe has been a dumping ground for substandard food products since the dawn of the new Millennium following a biblical economic downturn that crippled the local industry leaving Zimbabweans with no option but to rely on imports. The Business Connect.

Join our Facebook group zimditvnews for Breaking News and Updates

---