Byo residents red flag food caravans

By Zanele Ndlovu | Jun. 12, 2023

Bulawayo residents have raised concern over food being sold from caravans (carts)

BULAWAYO residents have raised concern over food being sold from caravans (carts) across the city saying the practice was a ticking health time bomb.

Resident Sibonginkosi Dube said the food caravans were not clean and some people had contracted strange sicknesses after eating food sold from the caravans that have mushroomed in the central business district.

“The worst part is that they cook in open places. We are getting several stomach-related diseases and we suspect it’s the caravans because several people are getting sick after eating the food,” Dube said.

Dumoluhle Khumalo alleged that some food traders were recycling food, posing a health risk.

“These people just warm stale food and resell it. How can we not get sick of this?”

Council’s health services acting director Charles Malaba said some of the caravans were registered.

“I cannot say with confidence that all mobile food carts are registered as in every operation some are operating illegally. It is also not fair to make an umbrella statement that food from mobile food carts makes people sick,” Malaba said.

“If people fall sick from eating the food then they have to report to the City of Bulawayo health services department so that an investigation [are carried out] and corrective measures are taken.”