Councillors fight abattoir closure

Patricia Edwin
Staff Writer | Monday October 17, 2011 00:00

A DVS inspection on August 23, found that the abattoir had fallen foul of the Livestock and Meat Hygiene Act. In addition, DVS found structural defects that could result in subsidence and collapse, rendering the abattoir building dangerous. 

But councillors are second-guessing the report, saying the abattoir had operated under those conditions for years and that it was closed earlier this year only on account of the outbreak of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) in the Francistown district.The report, which was read out to a full council meeting last week, recommends demolition of the abattoir in order to save the lives of employees and customers.

Butchers are advised to slaughter their animals at the Botswana Meat Commission (BMC) abattoir in the city, while employees should be re-deployed to other council departments, the report suggests.

Councillors are not persuaded. The Mayor of Francistown, Shadreck Nyeku, says the council is negotiating with DVS and other stakeholders to keep the municipal abattoir open.  'We do not have the money to carry out the recommendations laid out by DVS, and we need the abattoir open,' Nyeku says.

He told The Monitor that the recommendations would require P17 million to implement. In a related challenge to the city, butchers here find the quota of 400 to 500 cattle a week stipulated by the local BMC abattoir too steep.

Nyeku says the idea was that the BMC abattoir, which is being re-opened today, would set aside one day a week to slaughter for local butcheries. 'We are certainly hoping that the arrangement will stand,' the mayor says. He explains that butchers must understand that the quota demanded by the BMC would bring down rates charged.

'We have held meetings where we tried to help them understand this,' he says. 'We hear rumours that some butchers are slaughtering in the bush to avoid paying BMC rates.'

The CEO of the BMC, Dr David Falepau, says they are still negotiating with the butchers because they want to support local communities.