Zimbabwe’s second rabbit slaughterhouse is set to be opened in Bulawayo within the next 12, the Zimbabwe Commercial Rabbit Breeders Association (ZICORBA) president Regis Nyamakanga has said, as the sector moves to bring the market closer to producers.
The opening of a slaughterhouse in Bulawayo is part of a plan to open satellite rabbit slaughter-houses in various parts of the country to cater for cuniculture producers dotted across Zimbabwe in line with the resolutions of the Association strategic planning meeting that was held in Zimbabwe’s second-largest city on September 4 to 5.
The construction of Zimbabwe’s first rabbit abattoir, which is built to export specifications, was completed in Harare in July 2021 at a cost of nearly US$1m.
The Harare-based abattoir, which is owned by Raymeg Consultants Private Limited, a corporate member of ZICORBA, is one of the biggest rabbit abattoirs in Africa.
“We are currently in discussions with a number of investors to open the country’s second abattoir in Bulawayo, which will serve farmers from Matabeleland regions,” Nyamakanga said.
“Land for this purpose has already been identified. Our business partners have also identified land to build other satellite abattoirs in Manicaland, Masvingo, and Mashonaland West provinces.”
He told Bunny World on the sidelines of the strategic planning session that ZICORBA leaders from Zimbabwe 10 provinces had reported a sharp increase in rabbit production across the country, necessitating the opening of more abattoirs to bring the market closer to the producers.
ZICORBA, which celebrated its first anniversary in June, has forged strategic partnerships with rabbit farmers associations in other African countries like Botswana, Uganda, Kenya, Mozambique, South Africa, among others
Meanwhile, key players in the rabbit industry meet next month to develop a blueprint for one of the fastest-growing farming sub-sectors in the agriculture-rich southern African country.
Top officials in government such as Agriculture, Fisheries Water, and Rural Resettlement permanent secretary John Basera will attend the meeting, which is being jointly organised by ZICORBA and the Zimbabwe Insurance Brokers.
Experts from the state-run Departments of Research and Specialist Services; Veterinary Services and Agricultural and Extension Services will be on hand to provide technical input to the meeting.
Livestock and Meat Advisory Council of Zimbabwe CEO Dr. Renneth Mano will address the meeting on the importance of the rabbit industry to Zimbabwe’s economy.
—Bunny World/BUSINESS REPORTER
