‘Mantṧali Phakoana
The ministry of agriculture, food security and nutrition (MAFSN) says the national abattoir and feedlot complex at Khubetsoana in Maseru needs to demolished because it is very old.
Equipment at the centre, commonly known as Selakhapane, is obsolete and requires replacement before the complex can be used again.
According to a feasibility study conducted by the ministry through the departments of livestock services, marketing, and economic and administration, the existing feedlot is dilapidated and not used efficiently. Members from the economic and development cluster committee and representatives of Meat Traders Association Lesotho were also part of the team which tour and inspected the complex on May 29 2023.
The team handed over their report to the ministry on June 30.
The national abattoir has an average carrying capacity of slaughtering more than 1200 cattle and 300 sheep per day. It is categorised as a class-B abattoir based on several aspects such as size and quality of the cold rooms, availability of boiling water, management of the surroundings.
The team also visited five prominent butcheries in the city to learn where they slaughter their animals or where they source the meat.
According to the inspection report, the estimated cost for upgrading the abattoir structure and equipment is M31 million.
Another M3million would be required to upgrade equipment at the main feedlot.
The government-owned abattoir was initially closed for operation in 2003 following a decision to privatise it. In 2008, the facility was leased out to a private company, Meraka, for a duration of 10 years. The abattoir is complemented by the feedlot facility.
Currently the abattoir is closed because private operators were complaining about it being old and obsolete. In 2022, there was a call for tenders and three companies participated but they all did not meet the requirements.
Following the inspection, the ministry now recommends that the old operating systems of the slaughterhouse, such as the refrigeration system, abattoir conveyer rail system, water boiling system and asbestos roofing be replaced.
The team further recommended that experts from the ministry of public works and transport should be engaged to provide necessary support with the cost of putting buildings and structure in good or acceptable condition for tenant use.
The inspection also discovered during the tour that the loading pens were old and needed to be replaced. The weighing scale was not functioning hence the need for a new one.
The team further noted that stockmen office within the holding pens should be renovated, as it is against abattoir standards to house stockmen within the slaughterhouse area.
The roofing should be changed as the use of asbestos is no longer recommended, it added.
Connection of electricity and coal-powered water boilers were also found to have been damaged hence a need for them to be replaced with other forms of eco-friendly energy.
“The abattoir conveyer rail system is old and needs to be replaced. The refrigeration system still uses ammonia which is a hazard to human health and should be replaced.
“It is also expensive to maintain ammonia pipes because they are outdated and out of market supply,” the report noted.
