Multi-million-dollar rabbit meat distribution hub opens in Harare
BUSINESS REPORTER
Diversified concern, Raymeg Consultants Private Limited Group, last week opened its multi-million-dollar rabbit meat distribution hub and supermarket in Waterfalls suburb, Harare, making it the first rabbit meat distribution centre in the country.
This follows hard on the heels of the opening two weeks ago by Raymeg of Zimbabwe’s first Rabbit Grill and Chillspot, also in Waterfalls, Harare as demand for rabbit meat spikes in the country.
Raymeg owns Zimbabwe’s only rabbit abattoir and one of the biggest in Africa. The abattoir, which is built to export specification, has the capacity to process about 3 tonnes of rabbit meat per 8-hour day shift.
Paidamoyo Nyamakanga, Raymeg’s executive director, said the opening of the multi-million-dollar rabbit meat distribution centre in Harare was part of the company’s “promise to invest in the growth and development of the rabbit industry in Zimbabwe”.
“The journey that we started about two years ago is now gathering momentum. Our quest is to ensure that we bring rabbit meat to every home in Zimbabwe,” Nyamakanga said.
Raymeg has interests in strategic communication, agriculture, retail sector and real estate. It has operational hubs in Kenya, South Africa, and Zimbabwe. It also runs projects in the Horn of Africa region.
Nyamakanga said the Raymeg Rabbit Meat Hub would be distributing meat to supermarkets, hotels, restaurants, and eateries in various parts of the country. It will also serve the export market.
The facility employs nearly 50 people, mostly youth and women from some of Harare’s biggest suburbs of Waterfalls and Hatfield.
“Our passion as an organisation is to improve the livelihoods of our own people through the creation of much needed jobs,” she said.
The opening of the distribution hub comes as Raymeg is also eyeing to export rabbit meat to China amid growing demand for the meat.
China consumes 1 million tonnes of rabbit meat per year. It produces 600 000 tonnes, leaving a deficit of 400 000 tonnes.
Last month, Huang Minghai, Economic and Commercial Counsellor at the Chinese Embassy in Zimbabwe, pledged Chinese support to the abattoir.
He pledged to introduce Chinese companies operating in Zimbabwe to the rabbit abattoir with a view to over 1000 Chinese workers in Zimbabwe buying rabbit meat from Raymeg.
Huang led a delegation from the Chinese Embassy that visited the Raymeg Rabbit Breeding Centre, Raymeg Abattoir, Raymeg Rabbit Grill and Chillspot and Raymeg Supermarket and Rabbit Distribution Centre.
