Chinese caught importing meat in Lesotho

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Chinese caught importing meat in Lesotho
Chinese caught importing meat in Lesotho

Africa-Press – Lesotho. A Chinese national operating at Sky Country (Meat Market) was caught importing red meat (mutton and beef) into the country without proper permit. The perpetrator was caught by the Ministry of Small Business Development, Marketing and Cooperatives in conjunction with customs and security officials following tip offs that some traders were importing red meat (mutton and beef).

The Chinese were recently caught with a certificate that expired in February 2018. Addressing the media on Wednesday, Deputy Principal Secretary, Ms ‘Majoele Hlasoa said permits in possession of Chinese businesspeople importing red meat were dumped in November last year to pave for local production.

“This was done to encourage Basotho to buy local and produce for local consumption,” she said.

She said they are treating the new system with caution as they understand that Lesotho has signed treaties with other countries that allow free trade exemptions.

She said her ministry put under control the rate at which red meat was being imported into the country and this was done in line with the Agricultural Marketing Meat Import Control regulations legal notice 141 of 1992.

“We are not closing borders for certain goods, we are just encouraging our people to produce and not just be consumers,” she explained.

Hlasoa indicated that the new system will benefit Basotho and also grow the country’s economy. “The economy of a country cannot grow depending on imports only, we have to produce for domestic and international markets.

Jobs will be created if we produce,” she said. She further noted that local abattoirs buy animals from Basotho which means money will circulate in the country thus contributing to the growth of the economy.

Hlasoa said they are disappointed that even after the ministry has announced the cutting off on red meat importation, some people still want to import products without proper paperwork.

“Lesotho lose approximately M1 Billion annually on foods that can still be produced in the country that include eggs and red meat among others,” she said.

However, she said only grade A meat is not available in the country and they issue permits to people who want to import it. “But grade B and C are what most of our abattoirs sell in the country,” she added.

Meanwhile, Director Marketing Ministry of Small Business Development and Marketing, Mr Lekhooe Makhate said there are many benefits that Basotho will reap from the new system.

“There are many people who use products of these animals (skin and horns) to manufacture other products like bracelet, earrings and belts and this system will enable them to find their raw materials locally,” he said. He said the Chinese filed a court case against the ministry, therefore they will await the court decision.

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