Gweru police launch manhunt for donkey meat seller

donkey meat on sale in Gweru

Police in Gweru have launched a manhunt for a suspect who recently slaughtered a donkey and allegedly sold its meat to unsuspecting customers

The police confirmed the incident that happened on Sunday in Gweru’s Mkoba suburb. Residents who spoke to Chronicle said it was difficult to know which households bought the “special meat” as there are many meat vendors operating in Mkoba.

“The meat, I am told, is basically the same as beef save that donkey meat has too much fat. However, I heard from friends that a man was seen selling meat at a give-away price of $1.50 per kg. Most butcheries sell economy beef at about $4.50,” said a resident of Mkoba 4, Mr Brian Mpofu.

Mr Mpofu said the man was selling the meat in packed plastic bags of 5kg. He said residents in Mkoba 4 scrambled for the meat owing to the low price.
Another resident, Mrs Tendai Makore, said residents who came across the man after the meat had sold out had to place orders to ensure that they get first preference in the next delivery.

“One of my neighbours bought 10kg. She told me that the meat is tender and tasty. I do not know for certain whether it is donkey meat that people are talking about. What I know about the meat is that it produces too much froth when boiled. Only time will tell whether the meat is genuine beef or not,” said Mrs Makore.

A resident of Mkoba 5 who refused to be named said the meat man did not supply his “special meat” to households but preferred to deal with food outlets.
“There is nothing worth making noise about. This is much ado about nothing. After all other countries eat donkey meat and they look very healthy,” he said.

The man said the meat vendors often sell their meat without the head or hooves, making it difficult to tell whether its beef or donkey meat. Police spokesperson for Midlands, Inspector Patrick Chademana, confirmed the incident. He said on Sunday, a man from Mkoba 4 in Gweru released his six donkeys for grazing in an area in Mkoba.

“He later went to gather the donkeys and discovered that one was missing. After carrying out a thorough search in the area, he discovered that one of his donkeys had been slaughtered and skinned.

“Only the head and hooves were left behind,” said Insp Chademana. He said the man, who is the complainant, suspected that the suspect who slaughtered his beast took the whole carcass for resale within Gweru and the surrounding communities.

“We want to warn members of the public against buying meat from the vendors as it is a health hazard,” said the police spokesperson.

In an unrelated incident, two men from Chemagora area in Gokwe South were given 27 head of cattle and decided to slaughter one of them. Insp Chademana said the owner of the herd only discovered that one beast was missing when he returned.

“The owner got a tip-off from his fellow villagers that the beast was missing. He was told that the beast had been slaughtered and the meat sold. A report was made to the police and we have arrested two suspects, Clever Matete (64) and Marko Ndlovu (50), in connection with the matter. They are helping us with our investigations,” he said.

Insp Chademana said cases of stocktheft were on the increase and urged farmers in communal areas to guard their herd jealously, especially during the approaching festive season and the rainy season when they needed the beasts as draught power.