Minister of Local Government says the sale of alcoholic beverages in the Central Business District is illegal.
Speaking in an interview with Money FM News, Charles Banda said selling beer on the streets is an offence and borders on policing of the central business district by the Council who are supposed to move in and correct the state of affairs.
Dr. Banda stated that street vending in whatever form is illegal in town and that the local authority has been instructed time and again to ensure that they clear all the vendors from the streets because everybody should go and vend along Lumumba Road but not to sale alcohol on the streets.
“Street vending is illegal in town whatever merchandize, and we have instructed the council time and again to ensure that we clear all the vendors from Cairo road, vendors from Freedom way, Cha cha cha, everybody should go and vend along Lumumba road but not saying that they should be selling alcohol on the streets, that is an illegality.”
“Much as you want to speak to us, the law enforcement agency is the police, try and find out what they are doing about that matter, so that ourselves together with our colleagues there will put our heads together, each one should do what their function and mandate is, in as far as controlling the sale of alcohol in the Central Business District is concerned.”
And Dr. Banda added that the Ministry as wells as the Police who are law enforces have a role to play in ensuring that the trend is stopped, further pledging to alert the Council so that they swing into action and put things in order because street vending has not been lifted.
He said people selling beer on the streets are supposed to be arrested, hence the need for the police to also move in and arrest whoever will be found wanting.
“We have a role, the police have got a role, so the best is, approach it from both angles let everybody know about what is happening, I am going to alert the council just now to ensure that they move in and put things in order in as far as street vending is concerned because we have a statutory instrument which says no street vending, it has not been lifted at all.”
“Those people are supposed to be arrested, the police are supposed to move in and arrest those people,” he said.
Dr. Banda’s comment comes in the wake of concerns from members of the public over the continued sale of alcohol in the Central Business District, a situation they say is getting out of hand.