HEALTH experts have expressed concern over the selling of milk in the open at Chikwanha Shopping Centre in Chitungwiza, saying this could cause an outbreak of diseases in the town.
BY HAZVINEI MWANAKA
Farmers and villagers from Seke communal lands, Marondera and Hwedza throng the busy shopping centre everyday selling milk from poorly secured plastic buckets and metal tins for a living.
Health experts last week said the selling of milk in the open violated the Public Health Act and must be contained before there is an outbreak of diseases in the populous city.
But vendors who spoke to Standardcommunity last week said although they were aware that they were contravening the law, they vowed to continue selling the milk, as it was their only source of income.
“I have to do this because I have a family to take care of. If I don’t do this, my family will suffer and right now I am managing to send my three children to school,” said Margaret Chaibva of Hwedza. “Why should it be a problem for us to sell here, and besides, where are the jobs?”
Another milk vendor, John Mukutiri said he resorted to selling milk after failing to secure employment after completing his O’levels last year. “I entered the milk business immediately after I finished my O’levels last year. I don’t make much, but I am managing to put food on my table,” he said. “I sell at least two 20-litre buckets of sour milk every week and I usually get US$40.”
The traders pack the milk in small plastic bags, which they buy from other traders at the shopping centre, while other clients bring their own containers.
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“Business usually peaks during the rainy season when the forests are green,” he added.
Ministry of Health and Child Welfare director of epidemiology and disease control, Portia Manangazira said milk used for commercial use should be forwarded to depots for inspection to establish its suitability for public consumption.
“As we all know, milk is a very rich substance and attracts pathogens that cause bacteria, so when famers sell sour milk in open spaces and put it in plastic bags on their own, it is unhygenic and residents’ lives might be at risk,” she said. “If the problem is not handled carefully, it will cause a health hazard for the community.”
She urged residents to be selective of what they eat, as some products might be a hazard to their health.
Consumer Council of Zimbabwe (CCZ) executive director, Rosemary Siyachitema concurred with Manangazira.
“It’s a very dangerous practice because it puts consumer’s lives in danger, they will cause epidemics,” she said. “We therefore call upon the city council responsible to go around and look out for these activities. The consumers also must know that it is risky to buy milk in open spaces. Yes, we know it is cheaper, but is it worth it in terms of their lives?”
Efforts to get comments from Manyame Rural District Council or Chitungwiza City Council were fruitless last week.
Most of the milk buyers are residents of Chitungwiza.
Latest statistics from Chitungwiza’s health services department indicated two people died of typhoid in the city between July 2012 and June this year. At least 692 cases of the disease were recorded during the same period.
