Enforce underage law
should enforce the law that compels people to move with their National registration cards for identification purposes when entering bars and night clubs in an effort to curb underage patronage, says New Congress party president Peter Chanda.
Pastor Chanda said it has become inevitable for the Ministry of Home Affairs to issue a statutory instrument to order citizens to move with NRCs to limit underage children from gaining access to liquor stores.
He said the revelation following Saturday’s raid of Lusaka’ Emmasdale area where children as young as 13 years are found in bars and night clubs should not be allowed to continue without authorities putting up precautions.
“It should be mandatory for all Zambian to move with an NRC card.
“It is therefore our cry and demand to call on the Honorable Minister of Home Affairs Steven Kampyongo to issue a statutory instrument that will order people to move with an NRC card for identification purposes,” he said.
He hailed the Lusaka City Council (LCC) and Zambia Police for their joint efforts in addressing illicit underage drinking that was rampant around the infamous devil street in Emmasdale.
The clergyman has called on stakeholders especially parents to take keen interest in the activities of their children when they were not home, to try and control the illicit activities such as juvenile delinquency.
He explained that the recent incident of a sex party in Mkushi that involved school children and the earlier Woodlands’ party involving 70 children should not be entertained in a Christian Nation as Zambia.
“It is our prayer that the government puts up measures to ensure that Zambians remain committed to the same values we had before.
“We would love to also see the bar owners put up strict measures in ensuring that juveniles are questioned by showing their identity card,” he said.
Pastor Chanda said there must be sanity among young people guided by their parents to preserve them from illicit activities to avoid generation breakdown and contracting diseases hence dying before their time.