A COMBINED team of the state and council police have arrested 50 youths in Nakonde district for patronising bars and night clubs.
Acting Nakonde district council secretary Titus Walima who led the combined team last night has confirmed the arrest of the under age youths in an interview with the Zambia News and Information Services [ZANIS] in Nakonde today.
Mr. Walima said his team conducted the operation between 22:00 and 01:00 hours this morning.
He said a total of 40 under age youths were fished out from two night clubs in Nakonde central while 10 others were arrested from TAZARA area.
The council secretary said his team has since closed the three premises where under age patrons were found adding that the 50 youths; mainly girls have been detained at Nakonde police station.
Mr. Walima said the operation follows Government directive to enforce the law of restricting under age children from patronising bars and night clubs.
“We will not relent in our quest to ensure that all bar and night club owners comply with the regulation of not allowing under age children to patronise their premises. We will not rest until sanity has been brought to the border town,” He charged.
Mr. Walima warned that the local authority will not hesitate to close bars and night clubs that will be found to be violating the existing regulations.
And Home missionary John Mulalika has commended the local authority for arresting under age children who were found patronising bars and night clubs.
Missionary Mulalika said most of the arrested youths were also involved in bad activities such as prostitution and crime which were currently on the rise in the district.
He said the district was currently invaded by commercial sex workers ranging from the age as young as 11 years, coming from different districts such as Mbala, Mpulungu, Kasama, New Kapiri- Mposhi and Lusaka.
He said there was need for the local authority to arrest the situation by conducting such operations.
Meanwhile, Nakonde district council has given the street vendors who have resurfaced on the streets a 24-hour ultimatum in which to voluntarily leave the streets.
Council Secretary Titus Walima said his team would move in to flush out the street vendors if they do not leave the streets on their own.
He add that the council has enough designated trading areas where all the vendors could go and do their business.
ZANIS
The Local authority in Lusaka shud also visit the night clubs, where this problem is more prominent. These clubs are located in Northmead, towncentre, even at arcades, Kafue road unlike what they are doing now when they targeting areas like Mutendere, George , Chunga etc.
#1 You are right but the so called under age are the main patrons and club powners are in business. Its a tricky affair. A visit to such places will make one wonder where we are headed to as a country. Its take your pick at a fee. These guys no know no age its tapu tapu so long one has got the pocket full. The choice is yours live or non live. Pubs look normal during the day but come darkness its really something else.
These police are bored, try closing Brothels and catching thievies. instead of young men discovering beer.