Meat scarcity hits Musanze as district restricts livestock transactions

{Musanze butcher owners and consumers are worried of the lack of meat over the district’s management decision that no cow can be slaughtered without passing through Gataraga market.}

The said market in Gataraga sector was built five years ago but not a single cattle transaction has taken place from there since other than small livestock sold from there in the past two months.

Following the matter, the Musanze district advisory committee held a meeting on Friday where it was decided that no cow can be slaughtered without passing through Gataraga market for certification by veterinarian. Citizens have expressed disapproval of the decision saying they have started facing consequences.

“We have been affected negatively by the decision. When a person calls you to buy a cow at his home, you refuse and ask him to bring it in the market. He/she tells you that it is not easy to afford transport to take the cow in the market yet cows bred in cowshed can’t walk long distances and when it happens they are likely to get their feet swollen and sickly, “said Serugendo Augustine a dealer in livestock products.

Citizens also lament the decision because they can’t buy meat yet the end of the year festive season is close.

The leader of Nyamagumba butchery the largest one in Musanze district, Nyiramajyambere Assia has told IGIHE that they started experiencing meat scarcity on Monday this week and plan to negotiate with Rwanda Revenue Authority officials to suspend taxes because the business is in crisis.

He said that it is a big loss to face such worsening situation during festive season during which citizens buy much more meat.

On the other hand, the management of Musanze district says it will make sure the decision is respected.

“ The decision will eradicate the theft of cows and slaughtering cows in unsafe places. We will conduct more mobilizations because cows to be slaughtered have to be from the market as approved by the district advising committee,” says the mayor of Musanze district, Habyarimana Jean Baptiste.