• The Council seized brands of liquor approximately worth K 5, 000.
• The operation was conducted by Zambia Police Service and Council police officers.
• Council will relentlessly continue conducting random compliance checks on a daily basis.
Serenje Town Council discloses that it has shut down 20 bars and taverns for abrogating government’s directive of strictly adhering to Covid-19 health regulations.
Council Public Relations Officer Oscar Malipenga told Money FM News that this follows an operation conducted by the local authority last night, to check compliance to the health guidelines.
Mr. Malupenga stated that owners of bars and taverns who were found wanting have been summoned to appear before Public Health Department at the Civic Centre today 30th June, 2021 for sanctioning.
He revealed that during the operation, the Local Authority also seized assorted brands of liquor worth K 5, 000.
Mr. Malupenga said Director of Works, Engineer Tenson Mfula who led a combined team of Zambia Police Service and Council police officers, expressed shock at the low levels of compliance to the Covid-19 regulations that government has set.
He added that Engineer Mfula said the Local Authority was disappointed that bars and taverns had decided to go against the government’s directive to operate without strict adherence to Covid-19 measures.
“During a night compliance check of bars, taverns and night clubs, the Local Authority seized assorted brands of liquor approximately worthy K 5, 000.00,” Mr. Malupenga said.
Meanwhile, Senior Health Inspector Ivo Jaliso appealed to the owners of the bars and taverns to immediately begin complying with the government’s directive on Covid-19 as the pandemic is spreading at a faster rate thereby claiming a lot of lives.
Mr. Jaliso further cautioned owners of restaurants, bars and taverns that they risk having their trading licenses revoked should they be found wanting in the process of enforcing government’s directive on Covid-19.
“The Council will relentlessly continue conducting random compliance checks on a daily basis in a bid to engage business entities and to ensure that there was compliance to the set regulations in an effort to combat the spread of Covid-19,” he stated.
On Monday, Local Government Permanent Secretary Mathew Ngulube directed all bars, taverns, night clubs and casinos to shut down and only operate on take away basis for the next 14 days subject to review.
Mr. Ngulube stressed the need for owners of the business entities to ensure adherence to the new directive, warning that any premise that will be found allowing individuals to drink within their car parks, risk having their licenses revoked.
“Gyms will remain closed except for outdoor activities while observing the prescribed Covid-19 guidelines,” he said.
