The Chronicle

BULAWAYO, Saturday, May 16, 1993 — A Confrontation looms this morning over the move by the Cold Storage Commission to sell beef directly to the public beginning today.

The Bulawayo City Council says the parastatal would not be allowed to sell meat from its offices because they are situated in an industrial area.

“One has got to have a licence, which they do not have, and according to the city council that would be illegal. They have to seek council approval which they have not sought and I know no such approval has been given,” said the deputy Town Clerk (Committee and Legal), Mr Moffat Ndlovu.

However, the CSC board chairman, Mr Tom Gendeman, who took full control of the day-to-day running of the parastatal after the resignation of the General Manager, Mr Constantine Mutiwanyuka, declared on Thursday in reply to a query from The Chronicle that the sale of beef to the public would go ahead in Bulawayo as planned. He could not be reached to comment on the council’s stand yesterday.

Mr Ndlovu said the CSC was aware of the position of the Bulawayo City Council. Senior management officials were understood to be making frantic efforts to get a temporary licence from the city council through the parastatal’s lawyers. “They wanted a temporary licence but we do not do that,” said Mr Ndlovu.

The sale of meat directly to the public from an industrial stand would require authority that can only be given by a full council. The next council meeting is due at the end of this month.