16 Jun 2020

A member of the Satau adhoc committee responsible for constructing slaughter slab in the village is optimistic that the facility will help create opportunities for new markets.

Speaking during a recent tour of the facility by three assistant ministers recently, Mr Simasiko Ntema said residents yearn to see the slaughter slab,  whose construction is ongoing, construction of the expanding to a bigger facility.

“The number of animals and small stock slaughtered in this facility will also be increased by upgrading the existing slaughter slabs into a larger facility,” he added.

The Assistant Minister of Agriculture Development and Food Security, Ms Beauty Manake, Investment, Trade and Industry, Mr Karabo Gare and Assistant Minister of Tertiary Education, Research Science and Technology, Mr Machana Shamukuni visited Satau to meet with subsistence farmers and tour projects that are meant to improve the living standard of the residents.

Mr Ntema informed the visiting legislators that Satau residents initiated the construction of the facility using funds from the Chobe West Enclave Conservation Trust.

He explained that the facility, which is a community project, was prompted by the current setup whereby the residents were selling and buying meat under the tree, which was unhygienic.

Mr Ntema also stated that the meat would  be inspected at the slaughter slab before distribution to guarantee that the meat was safe for human consumption.

He said the slab had a slaughtering floor, skinning cradles for cattle and small stock, rails for hanging the carcass with an adequate and convenient water supply.

The committee member said the area surrounding the slaughter slab would be paved with concrete to improve both sanitary and working conditions.

He said if all goes according to plan, the slaughter slab would slaughter more than eight animals per week.

Among the challenged faced, Nr Ntema highlighted finance to speed up the completion of the construction.

 He said they would also require a cold room, money for the connection of electricity as well as a tractor for the transportation of meat from the abattoir to various destinations.

Mr Ntema explained that once finished, the slaughter house would  be utilised by all the villages of Chobe West Enclave being Muchenje, Mabele, Kavimba, Kachikau and Parakarungu.

For her part, Assistant Minister Manake applauded the residents for reviving the spirit of self-reliance by constructing the slaughter slab adding that it would go a long way in improving their standard of living.

She however, called for the formation of an organised committee to be able to secure funding and sponsorship. ENDS