Ethiopia’s first donkey slaughterhouse, Shandong Dong, is still undertaking business even if it has been banned by the government. The company is continuing business until the stock of donkeys it has purchased are slaughtered. According to Fortune, their stock should be complete sometime in this week.
It was on April 16, 2017 that Bishoftu City Administration banned the company from undertaking its activities. The letter sent from the Administration stipulated that the operation was offensive to the people that live around the plant.
“We cannot compromise when the community is demanding its closure,” said Dereje Jira, head of Bishoftu city administration Mayor’s Office. “One of the important points in our deep reform is avoiding negligence of the people’s demands.”
Lio Zhaohua, Country Director of Shandong, on his part said, “We cannot cease immediately”. “We are supposed to complete at least what we have in stock.”
It was 5 years ago that Shandong got its investment permit from the then Ethiopian Investment Agency. Its original plan was to buy donkey skins from the Ethiopian market. However, the Agency suggested the company establishes a slaughterhouse as it would not find anyone supplying donkey skin.
“We discussed and agreed on the issue first with the community living around our plant,” said Lio. “I don’t know why the current administration is against the survival of the abattoir.”
The City Administration on the other hand claims it ordered the closure of the slaughterhouse for the sake of the investors. “If we ignore the complaints and let the investment continue, it will eventually lead to unrest and property damage,” said Dereje.
It took Shandong 2 years to build the slaughterhouse at an outlay of 80 million Birr. “As long as we are here to invest, we should get some respect. We spent our time and money for the past two years here,” said Lio. “The city administration must be open for discussion.”
The slaughterhouse has the capacity to slaughter 200 donkeys per day. The meat is destined to the Vietnam market while the skin is sent to China.
Following the ban Shandong sent letter to the Ethiopian Investment Commission, the Ministry of Trade, Ministry of Agriculture and Meat & Dairy Industry Development Institute, requesting a reversal of the decision. The company also wrote a letter addressed to the Chinese Embassy in Addis Ababa claiming the ban is illegal and it would affect the relationship between the 2 countries.
Lio treats the matter as t=one that would change as the societal beliefs change, citing the case of pork. “Two decades ago, many investments were not allowed to breed and kill pigs. But, now it has become one product chain, Lio said.
Source: Fortune
