Lusaka Woman Sues Mika Meats for US$25,000 Over Alleged Contaminated Sausage

Lusaka Woman Seeks US$25,000 Over Alleged Contaminated Sausage

A Lusaka resident has sued Mika Meats Limited seeking US$25,000 compensation, alleging she became ill after consuming sausage containing a fly.

Thelma Chimuka-Simachembele has filed a statement of claim in the Lusaka High Court, accusing the company of negligence. She is also demanding K10,000 special damages together with aggravated and exemplary compensation.

According to the court documents filed by Farai Kajokoto and Saili Demiter-Botha of BDS Legal Practitioners, Ms Simachembele bought beef sausage from Mika Meats’ Chelstone-Obama outlet on February 6, 2023, and was issued a tax invoice number 70723.

The claim states that she returned home, unpacked and cooked the sausage before sitting down to eat. While eating, she allegedly made an “alarming discovery of a green housefly” embedded in the food.

Court papers say she experienced stomach pain and discomfort soon after eating and later began vomiting and developed a fever. The following day, she was admitted to the University Teaching Hospitals, where she was treated for severe gastroenteritis and abdominal pain.

Ms Simachembele reported the incident to the Lusaka City Council a week later. She claims that laboratory tests carried out by the National Food Laboratory under the Ministry of Health confirmed that there was “indeed, a house fly embedded in the subject sausage”.

The lawsuit argues that the company acted “negligently in selling food consumables… not wholesome”.

Mika Meats Limited is expected to respond before the matter proceeds to trial.