Report defiant bars, public urged

THE Ministry of Health and Child Care has implored the public to report all bars operating against Covid-19 regulations to the police.

This comes after several bars have continued selling alcohol against Government requirements.

Only bottle stores and hotels are allowed to sell alcohol from 10am to 3pm, but night clubs, sports clubs and beerhalls which have not been allowed to operate under Level 4 regulations were operating, with some allowing sit-ins, breaching the restrictive measures.

Health Deputy Minister Dr John Mangwiro said the only way to curb further spread of the disease was to join hands and see that violating bars which are super-spreaders are reported to the police.

“Members of the public should report to police or any healthy institutions if they witness or suspect anyone going against any health orders, worse bars which are operating illegally violating Covid-19 restrictions.

“Those bars who are said to be operating against any health rules should be closed and have their licences revoked,” said Dr Mangwiro.

Asked why the beer production chain was not stopped, Dr Mangwiro said that needed collective efforts.

“Banning of the beer delivery chain is done collectively as a taskforce; it is not an individual decision. We also encourage the police force to monitor on that because laws must be followed for the good of us all,” Dr Mangwiro said.

H-Metro witnessed packed bars operating illegally in Hwedza, Harare, Chitungwiza and Marondera.