The Lusaka City Council (LCC) has disclosed that they have closed nine bars for opening earlier than the lawful time.
LCC public relations officer George Sichimba says a combined team of Council Police and State Police conducted an early morning operation in Misisi, Chawama and Kuomboka compounds.
Mr. Sichimba says the operation aimed at checking on how compliant liquor businesses are to the laws and regulations as regards to operating within the stipulated time frame.
He explains that the law stipulates that bars and liquor stores must open at 10:00 hours and close at 22:00 hours.
“Night clubs/social clubs must open at 10:00 hours and close at 24:00 hours while wholesale liquor must open at 08:00 hours and close at 18:00 hours. The only exempted establishments are hotels, lodges, Guest houses, Restaurants, boarding houses, camps and camp sites which can sell liquor at any time to clients who are lodging with them and people that are buying food with regards to restaurants.”
Mr. Sichimba bemoans that some liquor dealers are not operating within the confines of the law and hence enforcement operations have to take place.
He says that “on 13th April, 2019, an operation to check on late closures was conducted in selected parts of Munali and Kabwata Constituencies which resulted in 17 bars being found wanting.”
“During today’s operation, 10 vendors were also apprehended for violating the Statutory Instrument (SI) No. 12 of 2018.The vendors have been handed over to state police for possible prosecution.” the PR manager adds.