The Chronicle

BULAWAYO, Monday, October 26, 1992 — The Nkayi District Council has banned the sale of traditional beer popularly known as “seven days”.

The ban has provoked bitter resentment among the majority of the people who are complaining that the move is unfair because the sale of traditional beer is an income-generating activity.

They said the ban would result in a hardship for a number of people in the district because they would no longer be able to raise money for school fees for their children.

The member of Parliament for Nkayi, Cde Welshman Mabhena, said the council had decided to ban the sale of traditional beer because this was causing a lot of rot in society. He said those found selling the beer would be arrested and brought before the courts.

“What we are against is the selling of this beer only. People can brew it for traditional ceremonies and other meaningful purposes. Where the beer is sold, people end up fighting and a number of anti-social incidents happen,” said Cde Mabhena.

A villager from the district, who refused to give his name, complained bitterly about the ban, saying he had been educated through funds generated through the sale of traditional beer. He wondered how people in the district would survive without this means of generating funds.

His sentiments were echoed by a woman who only identified herself as MaNcube. She said the council should reconsider its decision because the move was already affecting the people.