RAYMEG Consultants Private Limited, which owns Zimbabwe’s sole rabbit abattoir, has entered into a multi-million-dollar deal with a leading meat products distributor in the country.

The company, which is a corporate member of the Zimbabwe Commercial Rabbit Breeders Association (ZICORBA), has spent close to US$1 million on its export-certified abattoir in Harare.

A similar slaughter house is earmarked for Bulawayo by next year.

In a statement, Raymeg Consultants Private Limited executive director, Mrs Paidamoyo Nyamakanga, said their distributorship deal with Surrey Group will go a long way in ensuring that the local market is supplied with premium rabbit meat.

“In a game-changing deal in the rabbit industry in Zimbabwe, Raymeg Consultants Private Limited, has signed a multimillion-dollar distributorship agreement with the Surrey Group, one of the largest distributors of meat products in Zimbabwe,” she said.

“It has 13 distribution outlets in all the country’s 10 provinces.”

Rabbit meat is a delicacy known for its  high protein content and immense health benefits.

The Harare-based Raymeg Abattoir, which started operating in September, has a capacity to slaughter between 2,5 tonnes and 3,5 tonnes of rabbits in a single eight-hour shift.

Since the commencement of operations, the slaughter house has so far processed over three tonnes of rabbits.
The facility has received certification from the Halaal Council of Zimbabwe to ensure the rabbit meat is accessible countrywide.
Mrs Nyamakanga said the demand for  rabbit meat has been on the rise in Zimbabwe and it was anticipated that sales could reach  25 tonnes per month within the next 12 months.

The country’s cuniculture is burgeoning following the formation of ZICORBA in July last year.

This is on the back of various initiatives such as strategic alliances the rabbit association has embarked on with different stakeholders in and outside Zimbabwe in line with the objectives of the Government’s Livestock Growth Plan.

The Livestock Growth Plan is part of the Agriculture and Food Systems Transformation Strategy launched by President Mnangagwa last year with the agenda of growing the livestock industry to US$1,9 billion by 2025.
Surrey Group national sales manager, Mr Ranganai Zihumo, was quoted as saying: “We are excited to have rabbit meat added onto our basket of white meat product-line.

“We will leverage on our wide branch network to reach every part of the country with rabbit meat.”

Raymeg Consultants Private Limited was incorporated in Zimbabwe in 2002 and has interests in energy, agriculture, financial services, retail, real estate, strategic communication and leisure and resorts in eastern and southern Africa.  — @SikhulekelaniM1