The Lusaka City Council has closed down 18 bars and nightclubs that were found abrogating government’s directive to adhere to Covid-19 health guidelines.
During a night compliance check of bars and night clubs, Ministry of Local government Permanent Secretary Matthews Ngulube who was leading the tour expressed concern at the low levels of compliance to the Covid-19 pandemic measures that have been set by the government.
Mr Ngulube added that reputable bars and nightclubs have decided to go against the government’s directive to operate with strict adherence to Covid-19 measures.
“I am very disappointed that big businesses can go against the government’s guidelines with impunity while others are even expressing ignorance on the operating hours,” he said
The Permanent Secretary alluded that despite the business owners knowing the guidelines that have been set, they have bluntly decided to ignore the government’s directive in the pretext of not knowing the new operating hours.
Meanwhile, Lusaka Town Clerk Alex Mwansa said the state of affairs regarding the operation of bars and night clubs despite the Covid-19 pandemic is worrisome especially now that the country has been hit badly by the third wave of Covid-19.
“The local authority is not segregative in its operations, and everyone needs to comply with the Covid-19 measures,” he said
Mr Mwansa added that the Council will continue conducting random compliance checks on a daily basis in a bid to engage business entities to comply with governments health guidelines set to combat the quick spread of Covid-19.
Mr Mwansa thanked the media for their input in the fight against Covid-19 and has urged them to continue sensitizing members of the public on the correct measures that must be followed.
YES THERE IS COVID-19 BUT BARS AND NIGHTCLUBS ARE THEIR ONLY SOURCE OF INCOME. IMWE YOU HAVE GUARANTEED SALARIES FROM LCC. HELP THEM FINANCIALLY IF THEY ARE TO FOLLOW YOUR “CRIPPLING” GUIDELINES.
On this one I completely blame the govt for not closing down bars. The high number of deaths these days are a direct result of the failure by govt to implement stringent measures to reduce the spread of the disease. Zambians are generally a very loose country morally, and a lip service on reducing bar operating hours will not stop the morally bankrupt bar patrons from filling the bars and thus spread the covid19 virus in the community. Solution is to take paramilitary police and whip the hell out of those patrons and the jail the proprietors.
Mwachita bwino ba council. For me I will be patrolling tonight as a responsible citizen and effecting citizen arrest on those found wanting. We are tired you people. Twalema.
While we sympathise with bar owners for loss of business. Truth is most businesses are also affected similary serve for phamacies that are seriously profiteering out of this miserable pandemic.
Bars and night clubs are serious super
spreaders . Mental faculties do get compromised as we all know after intake of liqour.
Please just close all bars/clubs for now.Its for the good of the majority Zambians.
Protecting yourself is protecting others, get vaccinated ASAP,mask up, social distancing, washing hands frequently n sanitizing. Do it for the love of life. Here, people are being vaccinated with speed resulting in cases rapidly dropping n they already thinking of lifting some restrictions like masks which I don’t think it’s a good idea but yes Vaccinate Bantu n come up with isolation centres instead of sending sick people to go home n re-infect their families at home.