Three major public hospitals in the City of Bulawayo received hundreds of kilogrammes of elephant meat leftovers from the Independence Day national celebrations held in the city on Monday last week.
Bulawayo’s referral hospitals Ingutsheni, Mpilo and United Bulawayo Hospital (UBH) each were given their share of the game meat.
NewZimbabwe.com reported sources as saying that Mpilo received 150 kgs, UBH was allocated 140 kgs while Ingutsheni hospital, which was the first to be given, received an undisclosed amount of the meat.
Ingutsheni Hospital Clinical Director Wellington Ranga confirmed receiving the elephant meat in an interview with the publication. He said:
Yes, I can confirm that we received elephant meat yesterday but I do not have details of the source of the meat and quantity but I actually saw the meat.
Administrative officers are the ones who have got all the details regarding the source of the meat because they signed for it.
Mpilo Hospital Acting Chief Executive officer Solwayo Ngwenya said he was unaware of the meat donation when he was contacted for a comment.
A nutritionist who declined to be named told NewZimbabwe.com that there is low uptake of the elephant meat at Mpilo and UBH. Said the source:
A lot of patients are complaining that they cannot be forced to eat the meat. The meat is dense and fibrous making it difficult to chew.
This scenario is definitely not good for sick people. Apart from that, the meat has got also a funny smell which is uncomfortable.