Sukulwenkosi Dube Plumtree Correspondent
AJY SPAR Supermarket in Plumtree and two other grocery shops in Bulilima have been fined for selling expired goods. Plumtree magistrate, Gideon Ruvetsa fined AJY Spar Supermarket $250 and slapped Tondilambeli General Dealer and Dila General Dealer both in Masendu Business Centre with a $100 fine each.

AJY Spar Supermarket supervisor Elisha Mugwagwa appeared in court on behalf of the entity facing charges of displaying expired goods for sale.

The court heard that police carried out an inspection at the supermarket and discovered 27, 10 kilograms bags of expired mealie meal.

Prosecuting, Stanley Chinyanganya said police discovered the goods on September 29.

“Police detectives who were patrolling the Plumtree CBD received information to the effect that AJY Spar supermarket had displayed expired goods for sale.

“The police detectives proceeded to the supermarket where they found 27 by 10kg Victoria mealie meal that had expired leading to Mugwagwa’s arrest,” he said.

Ruvetsa ordered the supermarket to pay a $250 fine.

In the other incident Modise Tshuma, 32, appeared before the same magistrate representing Tondilambeli General Dealer in Bulilima while Charles Ngwenya, 58, represented Dila General Dealer.

Prosecuting, Elisha Mazorodze said the expired goods were discovered on September 16 in the two grocery shops which are located at Masendu Business Centre.

“On 16 September two police officers were on patrol at Masendu Business Centre where they carried out an inspection at Tondilambeli General Dealer. They discovered 18 by 15 grammes of Royco beef vegetable soup which had expired.

“They proceeded to Dila General Dealer where upon checking they discovered 6 by 125 grammes of five roses tea, 9 by 60 grammes tekker tea which had expired but were still displayed on the shelves,” he said.

Ruvetsa ordered the two grocery shops to each pay a $100 fine.

The supermarkets’ representatives apologised to the court.

Ruvetsa lashed out at the supermarkets for being negligent and at the same time putting the lives of customers at risk.

“As service providers you’ve to pay attention to the type of goods which you serve people. Once expired, food stuffs can be poisonous which can pose as a health threat for people.

“Therefore if you sell such goods then it means that you’re putting the lives of people at risk. It’s your duty to ensure that all goods aren’t harmful and expired goods are removed from the shelves,” he said.

 

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