RESTAURANTS and casino operators who will turn their premises into bars and nightclubs will have their licences revoked, Minister of Local Government Charles Banda has warned. Dr Banda said businesses that have been allowed to operate should do so in accordance with provisions of the licences they hold.

He said this yesterday after receiving a donation of K100,000 for the fight against COVID-19 from Zambian Breweries Plc. On Friday, President Edgar Lungu relaxed restrictions on operations of restaurants, casinos, gymnasiums and cinemas subject to strict adherence to coronavirus preventive measures.

“The announcement by President Lungu to open certain sectors of the economy was to ensure that people’s livelihoods and sources of income are preserved in the wake of coronavirus. “If someone holds a licence to operate as a restaurant and has permission to sell liquor, there will be no harm for them to serve alcohol to clients. But no restaurant or casino will be allowed to operate as bars or nightclubs,” he said. The minister said restaurants should ensure that there is no overcrowding and their clients observe social distancing by reducing the number of people their premises normally accommodate to half.

Dr Banda directed local authorities countrywide to embark on mass inspection of trading premises to ensure compliance to COVID-19 preventive measures. The minister said businesses that have not been permitted to operate yet should not despair because Government is still reviewing the measures.

He said Government does not want to punish anyone, and that the decisions it has made are meant to benefit Zambians. Dr Banda also said Government needs more support from the private sector for it to effectively fight the pandemic. He urged corporate entities to support Government by donating towards the fight against COVID-19. And Zambian Breweries managing director Martin Makomva said the donation is in line with the company’s corporate social responsibility programme. Mr Makomva said COVID-19 has negatively affected various businesses, hence the need for the private sector to partner with Government in fighting the disease.

He commended Government for implementing COVID-19 preventive measures while striking a balance between economic and public health needs. Meanwhile, more organisations have continued contributing to the coronavirus fight through donations, with the latest being the Judicial and Allied Workers Union of Zambia, which donated 1,000 litres of fuel to help improve mobility of frontline health workers. Women of Excellence, under Praise Christian Centre Church International, donated 70,000 cloth face masks worth K70,000 while First Quantum Minerals female workers contributed 2,000 face masks. Receiving the donation, Minister of Health Dr Chitalu Chilufya thanked the stakeholders for partnering with Government in fighting COVID-19.