Unregistered meat vendors face up to 6 months in jail after Kasukuwere approves new meat bylaw

Vendors that are not registered with the council face up to 6 months in jail or a level five fine or both after local government minister Saviour Kasukuwere approved the amendment of Harare (Meat) by-laws under Statutory Instrument (SI) 37 of 2017, replacing the one drafted in 1976.

Section 6 (2) of the (SI) states that no person shall be registered with the council unless the facilities and the premises which he or she uses for the handling and dressing of game meat have been approved by the medical officer of health. It also points out that meat not complying with the regulations may be seized and destroyed. The SI also makes provision for a council health inspector to impose fines for breaches of the by-laws.

The SI states that any person who contravenes the by-law shall be guilty of an offence and liable to a fine not exceeding level five or to imprisonment for six months or to both such fine and imprisonment.