ILLEGAL MAKENI BARS WARNED

By NATION REPORTER THE Lusaka City Council has warned bar owners to desist from allowing underage patrons or risk having their trade licences revoked.

Lusaka council’s acting public relations manager, George Sichimba said the local authority has a programme of checking on compliance in terms of underage drinking and patronage.

Several parents and guardians have complained to the Daily Nation that pupils at Bayuni School in Makeni area were fond of patronising nearby drinking places instead of being in class.

A parent, Mr Moses Bwalya said the named bar in the area does not observe operating hours as it opens as early as 05:00 hours.

In an interview yesterday, Mr. Sichimba said it was illegal for underage persons to be found in a drinking place and advised the pupils to stop such activities or face the law.

He said that the school management and Parents Teacher Association (PTA) should officially complain to the council so that they could move in saying a nuisance always has a complaint.

“School management and PTA should officially complain to council that we can move in. A nuisance always has a complainant.

But we have a programme of checking on compliance in terms of underage drinking and patronage and those young ones doing should stop or else the law will soon visit them.

Bar owners should make sure that they don’t admit underage patrons if found wanting their licences will be revoked,” he said.

Mr. Sichimba encouraged members of the public to inform the LCC as they would investigate such matters and take appropriate action to rectify the situation.

Another parent, Joyce Banda, said the same bar was operating illegally and wondered why the council had tolerated such a situation.