Shurugwi Town Council (Game Meat) By-laws, 2025
Shurugwi prices game meat trading steeply: US$100 to register as a rancher, US$600 for a game meat licence, US$50 an inspection, and US$500 for selling uninspected meat.
These by-laws control the sale of game meat in the Shurugwi Town Council area. Game meat may only be sold, or brought in for sale, if supplied by a game rancher registered with the council. Registration requires the Officer of Health to approve the premises and facilities used for handling and dressing the meat, and the rancher to hold a current game cropping and sale permit from the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority. Vehicles must be built to prevent contamination and kept clean.
Game meat brought in from outside must be notified and produced for inspection; sound meat is stamped with an indelible mark, and unsound or diseased meat may be seized and destroyed against a certificate.
The charges are the highest of the councils that made these by-laws in 2025: US$100 to register as a game rancher, US$600 for the game meat licence and US$50 for inspection. Penalties are US$500 for selling uninspected game meat, US$300 for transporting it without proper health and safety precautions, and US$250 each for selling without council approval and for obstructing an authorised official. By comparison the City of Masvingo charges US$10 for inspection and US$50 penalties, and Insiza prints nil throughout.
An unpaid liability after 90 days is a further offence carrying up to level 3 or two years' imprisonment.
What changed
- Game meat may only be sold if supplied by a rancher registered with the council
- Registration costs US$100 and the game meat licence US$600, with inspections at US$50
- Selling uninspected game meat carries US$500 and unsafe transport US$300
- Selling without council approval and obstructing an official each carry US$250
- Unpaid liabilities after 90 days risk two years' imprisonment
Who this affects
- Game ranchers and safari operators selling meat in Shurugwi
- Butcheries and traders bringing in game meat
- Transporters of game meat
- Council health inspectors
Plain-language summary — not legal advice. Always read the full instrument.