By ALICE NACHILEMBE
Chililabombwe Municipal Council (CMC) has shut down 33 bars for defying the Presidential Directives.
CMC Assistant Public Relations Manager Chilufya Chuugu said the 33 bars were found fully operational contrary to the statutary instrument of 2020 that all bars remain closed to the avoid spread of the corona virus.
Ms Chungu said the closure was during a joint operation conducted by the Council and Zambia Police during the long weekend.
She said that some people have seen the closure of bars as a business opportunity to open up shebeens and mobile bars within the Central Business District and Residential Areas.
Ms Chungu also said a number of bars and nights clubs have modified their premises in order to accommodate patrons and obstruct authorised officers from executing their duty.
“We want to sound a stern warning to all traders engaging in this kind of business that the Council will not hesitate to close down and recommend to the Liquor Licencing Committee for the revocation of liquor licenses for such business premises,” she said.
She said the 33 have since been closed down and summoned to report to the Department of Public Health to account for their irresponsible actions.
