The Sunday News
Mhlupheki Dube
LAST week, social media was in overdrive over suspicions of malpractice by some players in the beef value chain.
Serious accusations were thrown against a big chain retail supermarket and one established abattoir operating predominantly in the northern region of the country.
In their defence the companies who were fingered in the damaging accusations responded by releasing Press statements to distance themselves from the said incidences and obviously deodorise the stink of the stinging accusations. Just to bring up to speed those who may have missed the widely circulated accusations, there is an audio clip and pictures which were circulated extensively especially on social media and the clip alleged that a reputable abattoir was buying sick animals and some of them already dead from communities that are ravaged by Theileriosis (January disease).
The meat from these sick animals is alleged to be sold to named big chain franchise retail supermarkets. The audio goes on to allege that this is the reason why this supermarket is suddenly selling very cheap beef by going standards in the country. Now this article is by no way a validation of the accusations which obviously pose a serious reputational risk not only the fingered companies but the entire beef industry.
However, this article cautions against wholesale dismissal of the accusations as mere creation of the extremely fertile imagination of the social media. God knows we have very fertile imaginations in this sector where some near authentic looking publications have gone on to be dismissed and even proven to be fake news.
The unintended consequence of the creation of these idle minds is that the social media platforms, powerful as they are in terms of coverage, they are being discredited daily as sources of reliable information. However, I wish to point out a few facts around this issue. Firstly, it is a fact that some unscrupulous buyers and retailers are buying meat of these diseased animals. The accused abattoir and big chain supermarket may not be involved in this but it cannot be disputed that it is happening.
I am fortunate enough that in my spheres of operation I get to interact with some farmers in the areas that are seriously affected by January disease and farmers will tell you that middlemen and agents of some of abattoirs come to buy these sickly animals and they actually prefer these animals because they will offer peanuts for them.
The second fact is that corruption is rampant such that despite having well laid out and articulated systems of animal inspection, clearances and movement, undeserving cases still find their way out obviously through nefarious means.
This therefore, means it can no longer be enough defence to just give a narration of the laid down process of animal purchase, health inspection, police clearance and movement permits, but this should be supported with evidence when needed.
Again telling us how the abattoir slaughter process works, health inspections and all works, will simply not cut it until supported with evidence that whosoever is being accused of malpractice actually went through the proper channels.
The accusations in those audio clips and the attendant pictures are very damaging not only to the fingered companies but the entire beef value chain hence I will counsel the responsible authorities against merely issuing a Press statement to rebuke the allegations but to institute investigations not only of the fingered companies but of the whole process, especially in the mentioned areas.
An evidence-based dismissal of the accusations will help to assure confidence not only of the value chain but the product itself. I have no doubt that a number of people will probably abstain from beef for some time as a result of those audio clips and this has obvious implications on the demand of beef and the impact will be felt all the way to the producer. It is therefore imperative that powers that be clean the beef industry of this stain so that those who have a stake in this do not suffer the consequences of a rejected steak!
Uyabonga umntakaMaKhumalo.
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