Friday, March 29, 2024

Shamenda appalled by reports of Chinese firm forcing Zambian workers to eat dog meat

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Labour Minister Fackson Shamenda (right) and Zambia Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) General Secretary Roy Mwaba
Labour Minister Fackson Shamenda (right) and Zambia Congress of Trade
Unions (ZCTU) General Secretary Roy Mwaba

Government is appalled by reports that Chinese employers at Hua Ling Construction Company allegedly forces their Zambian workers to partake in the eating of dog meat.

Labour and Social Security Minister Fackson Shamenda has told QFM News in an interview that government will not condone such unacceptable conduct.

Mr. Shamenda says he will dispatch a team of officers from his ministry to follow up the reports and investigate the matter.

Mr. Shamenda has since encouraged Zambian workers especially those working for private companies to come up with unions to avoid being exploited by employers.

He says belonging to unions will help workers to have their grievances addressed.

Mr Shamenda says it is difficult for his Ministry to know how many foreign employers are exploiting their workers if workers do not belong to unions.

37 COMMENTS

  1. It’s always been my view regarding the Chinese that one cannot trust them. Their goods, their products, their services, their racist conduct, always terrible.

    • what do these so called investors want to reduce us to? isnt stealing our resources enough? And now we must eat their dog meat?

      Where is our dignity, our pride as a country?

      Govt has to come in or we will take the law into our own hands

    • There is nothing wrong with Dog meat.

      It is the same as eating snake, chicken, meat, pork nothing wrong at all

      Thanks

    • They like it naimwe! Is the meat being shoved down their throats? Throw some spices in there or make dog michopo!

    • ESPECIALLY, AGAINST BLACK AFRICANS. CHINESE, ASIAN AND THE FAR EAST PEOPLE ARE THE MOST RACIST THAN WHITE PEOPLE.

  2. Surely there are far more important labour related issues that need your attention than this gossip you cheapskate

    • I THINK THE MAIN ISSUE HERE SHOULD BE “FORCING” SOMEONE TO EAT BUT DOG MEAT ALONE SHOULD SURELY NOT BE AN ISSUE TO RAISE SO MUCH DUST HERE. THE PROBLEM IN THIS COUNTRY IS THAT WE TEND TO OVERREACT TO NON ISSUES. THE MINISTER OF DEFENSE HON. LUNGU WAS SHOWN ON TV CHEWING A PYTHON STEAK, WHO COMPLAINED? IN SOME AREAS OPANI IS A DELICACY WHILE IN OTHERS CROCODILE MEAT IS NOW A PREFERRED DELICACY. IN CASE THOSE RAISING ALARM ARE NOT AWARE, DOG BREEDING FOR MEAT WAS BEING DONE AT TAZARA COMPOUND IN MPIKA AND SOME ZAMBIANS WERE TAKING PART AND THIS WAS DURING THE CONSTRUCTION OF TAZARA. IF SO MUCH WORRIED ABOUT SOME OF THESE DELICACIES, THEN BE ADVISED THAT NEVER TRAVEL TO COUNTRIES IN ASIA AND FAR EAST. CAN WE HAVE A REASON FOR NOT EATING DOG MEAT BUT MONKEY,MBEBA, OPANI, GOAT, SHEEP MEAT,…

  3. Why can a man force me to eat something I don’t eat, especially in my own country. Even in prison, there are hunger strikes. Workers shouldn’t blame Chinese who are simply feeding them, blame government who is starving them. Chinese are not in Zambia to feed people. Get your salary, cook nshima and take it for work in plastic bag.

  4. Really? How can someone force you to eat dog meat? Is it not that yalinunkila and you found yourself unable to resist tasting it? Or maybe balandile ati “umunani ilipofye ni dog meat”?

  5. Constitution in its current form (even draft) does not state which food Zambians must eat. The mini is really DULL. More over, there has been no death recorded after consumption of the DOG meat. It is true that DOGS are still cheap and can be a good SOURCE of protein

  6. As always, in PF sh!t comes out distorted. I watched this on Muvi TV. They do not force them to eat dog meat. What they force them to do is to prepare the dog meat for the Chinese guys to eat. The Zambian workers said they are taught how to kill and prepare the dogs for their bosses. Me, being a dog lover, found this absolutely appalling, especially that it was recorded via hidden camera and I actually saw a severed dog’s head. Really sad for the dogs.

  7. Those are some of the problems brought about by gobalization. The chinese also partake in zambian meals so what is the problem. The Hon Minister should instead visity some courier companies and see for himself how Zambian workers are exploited.

  8. One man’s pet is another man’s dinner. Get it??? There is absolutely no where where food has been gazetted or even proscribed. Why are Zambians getting so petty? Streuth! I know some fundamentalist will bring in … ok I stop.

    • DID YOU SAY SO PETTY? GO TO CHINA AND FORCE THEM TO EAT WHAT THEY GENERALLY OR TRADITIONALLY DON’T EAT. IF YOU WILL COME BACK WALKING YOU ARE VERY LUCKY. YOU WILL NORMALLY, COME BACK IN A BOX.

    • @Peter, if you take LT reporting literally you will end up like a heretic. There is so much mis-reporting; already there are sections saying what they are actually objecting to is PREPARING or dog meat and not EATING. Of course in almost all societies there are extra-judicial behaviors that take place and we have no control over that. But simply to take the law into our hands in this matter is not what I would advocate for. I still maintain that there is NOTHING that has been classified in law as inedible outside of the obvious drugs and narcotics. Ethically, and religiously perhaps…

  9. Ba Shameda, is this what to talk about. Meat is always meat .Properly Chinese fried, with some nice spices, you would also partake in the michopos. Besides this Chinese was just serving those who partook in his delicassy. Nyama ni nyana, kakolwe in trust me a nice one.
    .

  10. No serious government should allow such behaviour on its territory. Government should not shy to ask all foreign investors to attend short cultural induction courses to ensure compliance with Zambian cultural practices. Those that fail should not be allowed to stay here. Being Black and African, Zambians suffer enough racial discrimination outside Africa. However if our governments accept that we are inferior to the Chinese, then so be it.

    • SPOT ON MY BROTHER/SISTER. WHY SHOULD WE NOT BE PROTECTED IN OUR OWN LAND? WHEN WE GO TO THESE PEOPLES’ LANDS- THE FARE SKIN. WE ARE SERIOUSLY DISCRIMINATED. SO WHERE ARE WE GOING TO FEEL FREE IF EVEN NOT ON OUR OWN LAND. CULTURAL INDUCTION SHOULD BE ENFORCED TO NEW COMERS. BRITAIN DOES IT AND YOU PAY FOR THE TRAINING. THIS IS ESSENTIAL (AND I TOTALLY AGREE WITH THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT) FOR NEW COMERS TO HAVE ‘CULTURAL’, TRADITIONAL, AND LIFE-STYLE VALUES OF BRITAIN. FAILING THE TEST DISQUALIFIES ONE FROM ACQUIRING A BRITISH CITIZENSHIP OR INDEFINITE LEAVE TO STAY IN THE UK. WHY CAN’T ZAMBIA DO THE SAME/SIMILAR THING?

    • AND WHY CAN’T WE BE PRO-ACTIVE TO SOME OF THESE THINGS- MAKE LAWS OR INTRODUCE SUCH INDUCTION COURSES EVEN BEFORE AN OFFENSE IS COMMITTED. ZAMBIA IS NOT A DOG-EATING NATION AND WE SHOULD REMAIN AS SUCH. ANYONE FOUND EATING DOGS OR HELPING ANOTHER ONE TO EAT A DOG MUST BE LIABLE FOR PROSECUTION WITH A POTENTIALLY LONG PRISON SENTENCE IF/WHEN FOUND GUILTY.

  11. WHY ALLOW CHINESE EATING DOGS IN ZAMBIA IN THE FIRST PLACE. BWANA MINISTER, THAT IS ZAMBIA, THAT’S NOT CHINA. CHINESE ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO EAT DOGS IN ZAMBIA BUT IN CHINA AND WHEREVER THEY EAT DOGS- SAY NIGERIA. OTHERWISE IN BUTCHERIES DOG MEAT WILL BE MIXED WITH COW MEAT OR DOG MEAT FOR MINCED MEAT. ZAMBIANS AND ZAMBIAN AUTHORITIES REALLY DON’T STOP TO SURPRISE ME. HOW CAN YOU LET THE CHINESE TO COME AND SET RULES AND LAWS OF EATING DOG MEAT. ZAMBIANS, PLEASE, SET YOUR OWN STANDARDS (LAWS) AND LET COMERS FOLLOW THOSE STANDARDS (OR LAWS). EVEN HERE IN THE UK THE CHINESE DON’T EAT DOGS. ONCE FOUND THAT CHINA MAN WOULD BE JAILED.

    • COME ON PETER! WHY ALLOW A BEEF EATING ZAMBIAN IN BENGAL OR PUNJAB? WHY ALLOW HON. LUNGU (DEFENSE MINISTER) CHEW A ROASTED ANAKONDA (PYTHON) IN ZAMBIA? WHY SHOULD THE BEMBAS ALLOW THE RAT (MBEBA) EATING NGONIS IN KASAMA? WHY SHOULD A TONGA ALLOW AN OPANI EATING LOZI IN CHOMA? DO YOU WANT THE LABOUR MINISTER TO BE DICTATING TO FOREIGNERS COMING TO WORK IN ZAMBIA WHAT THEY SHOULD AND SHOULD NOT EAT? I DO NOT THINK THAT THE LABOUR MINISTER SHOULD EVER DO THAT. TO ME HIS CONCERNS WERE ON THE ISSUE OF “FORCING” ZAMBIANS TO EAT DOG MEAT AND NOTHING ELSE BEYOND THAT. DO NOT BE FOOLED BECAUSE A NUMBER OF ZAMBIANS EAT DOG MEAT. ZAMBIANS, YOU JUST WANT TO BE ON THE PLANET THAT DOES NOT EXIST. YOU WANT EVERY FOREIGNER TO BE EATING ONLY THOSE THINGS THAT YOU WANT. GO TO UK AND ADD SUGAR TO COOKED…

  12. I AM PRETTY SURE WITH NO LAWS (OR STANDARDS) IN ZAMBIA, MOST ZAMBIANS HAVE EATEN DOGS WITHOUT THEIR KNOWLEDGE. CHINESE DON’T RESPECT BLACK PEOPLE. SO, FEEDING YOU ON A DOG WOULDN’T BOTHER A CHINA MAN AT ALL. SO, IT’S HIGH TIME LAWS ARE ENACTED STATING THAT ANYONE FOUND SLAUGHTERING A DOG FOR DINNER IS LIABLE FOR PROSECUTION AND ONCE FOUND GUILTY WILL ATTRACT A LONG PRISON SENTENCE. OTHERWISE, ALL I CAN SAY TO ZAMBIANS IS ENJOY YOUR DOG MEAT DINNERS. ELO AMA ZAMBIANS FIPUBA. PANTU FYE UULEMWEBA WA NKANDA IYABUTA, ENA KULYA.

    • PETER AND OTHERS, THE ISSUE HERE IS THAT OF “FORCING” AND AS OTHERS HAVE SAID, IT IS JUST NOT POSSIBLE FOR A WORKER TO BE FORCED TO EAT SOMETHING HE/SHE DOES NOT LIKE.THIS CAN ONLY HAPPEN UNDER TORTURE BUT NOT WHEN WANTS TO RETAIN HIS/HER JOB. WHY NOT QUIT? THE WORKERS SHOULD JUST SAY THEY ARE NOW EATING DOG MEAT THAT THEY HAVE NEVER TASTED BEFORE BUT THEY DO NOT KNOW HOW THEY WILL REACT. THE IDEA IS TO ALERT THE GOVT. JUST IN CASE OF ANYTHING MYSTERIOUS HAPPENS TO THEM BECAUSE THEY DO NOT KNOW HOW THEIR BODIES WOULD REACT TO THEIR EATING OF DOG MEAT. ENCOURAGE THEN AND TELL THEM THAT THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH DOG MEAT. FOR HOW LONG HAVE THEY BEEN TAKING THIS DOG MEAT ANYWAY? MY GRANDFATHER USED TO EAT LEOPARDS, LIONS, HYENAS, ETC, BUT NEVER COOKED THEM FRESH BUT IN DRIED WITH CHILIES.

  13. dog meat is very precious meat to chinese , they will never give to zambian to eat ! rumors! even chinese won’t risk eat dog meat in zambia ,because they might have risk of infect rabies diease virus ! shamenda, do something meaningful and useful!

    • SOME MONTHS BACK THE LOCAL GOVT AUTHORITIES DECIDED TO SHOOT DOWN RABIED DOGS IN THE CB (CORRECT ME OVER CB). THE CHINESE ASKED ZAMBIANS TO COLLECT THEM ALL DOGS FOUND SHOT DEAD ON STREETS FOR A FEE. THE CHINESE ARE AWARE THAT IT IS AGAINST THE LAW IN ZAMBIA TO EAT DOGS THAT’S WHY THEY HAD TO ASK ZAMBIANS TO IT FOR THEM.

  14. I don’t eat in Chinese restaurants as a personal choice, whether be it a corner eatery or Mr Chow’s and I will tell you why. I saw a documentary on BBC shot in China and the USA where more than 900 restaurateurs where arrested for selling to customers fox, rat and dog meat as chicken and beef. Now if the Chinese can do this in the USA where the FDA and health inspectors closes down restaurants for minor violations such as not washing your dishes properly, can you imagine how much leeway they have in Zambia.

  15. People should be responsible for their lives and honestly speaking how can an adult person be forced to eat something he does not want. Those Zambians being forced to eat dog meat are simply and just stuupid to say the least. Why do our people always let these foreigners control them so much, where is the pride anyway? People should stand for their rights in such cases even if it means losing the job. Too much of this and that when people know what they should do and not rushing to the govt that does not care about their welfare!

  16. I still think that there is a careless articulation in this reporting. There appears to be a competitive spirit between media outlets on who will outdo each other in speculative reporting that is making even Fox News blush in shame. Most societies that prescribe what to do with food do it on either religious or cultural grounds. It is very difficult to legislate food and culinary matters. We can, as a cultural edict, put those measures in place and frown upon those that are forcing others to eat what they do not want but aside from that I wouldn’t push legislation over food. That said, I really need a first-hand, unbiased narrative on this “forced-to-eat” story; it doesn’t really seem plausible that adults can be coerced into eating what they do not want.

  17. The original story was that workers were forced to kill and cook for the China men and not forced to eat.

  18. We hev eaten to much dog meat via michopo.And besides,are they forced to eat?How long hev they bin chawin?Hev they died?Ku lyafye guys,ifyakulya ni mind.

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