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The Chililabombwe Municipal Council has disposed of 300 boxes of decomposed fish from a consignment of 2,600 boxes discovered in a truck destined for Kasumbalesa.
According to a statement issued on Saturday by the council’s Public Relations Department, the destroyed food items failed to comply with the Food Safety Act No. 7 of 2019.
“The truck in question was first noticed by Council officers on February 27, 2026 after maggots were observed underneath the vehicle while it was parked along the Kasumbalesa Road,” the statement said.
Emmanuel Kasongo, Chief Health Inspector at the Chililabombwe Municipal Council, said the truck bearing registration number HZ 56 WC GP was immediately detained following the suspicion.
He explained that the council, working with relevant stakeholders including the Zambia Revenue Authority, Zambia Police Service and the court, conducted a joint inspection which revealed that part of the consignment had decomposed.
“The Local Authority, working with relevant stakeholders including the Zambia Revenue Authority, Zambia Police Service, and the Court, conducted a joint inspection which led to the discovery that part of the consignment had decomposed food products,” Kasongo said.
Following the inspection, 300 boxes of the fish were condemned and safely disposed of in accordance with public health regulations.
“The Local Authority has penalized the transporter, as part of efforts to ensure that food meant for human consumption is safe and fit for consumption,” he said.
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Kasongo appealed to businesses operating cold storage facilities and handling perishable commodities to seek assistance from relevant authorities whenever they encounter challenges that may compromise food safety.
He noted that the situation affecting the transporter was believed to have been caused by a disruption in the cold storage system during transportation.
“Chililabombwe Municipal Council remains committed to taking all necessary measures to safeguard public health and ensure food safety for all residents,” he said.
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