By CHARLES MUSONDA
GOVERNMENT has warned that it will revoke operating licences for owners of bars, night clubs, and casinos that have continued to defy its directive to close their premises.
In an interview yesterday, Local Government Permanent Secretary Mathew Ngulube said he is disappointed that the association representing bars and nightclubs owners has reportedly urged its members to defy the directive.
Mr. Ngulube said it is not the association that will suffer consequences of defying but business entities at individual levels.
He said people must know and understand that Government does not delight in seeing business premises closed.
He said the government has been trying as much as possible to make a balance and ensure that people participate in the fight against Covid-19 at an individual level.
Mr. Ngulube said this is the reason the government has made a multi-sectoral approach to the fight against the pandemic, which has proved to be real going by the big number of lives it has claimed.
He said if people comply with the Covid-19 guidelines, it will be easier for the government to ease up some of the measures it has put in place.
He said the government wants to see commerce continue and the economy grow. He said this is the reason President Edgar Lungu last week toured some markets in Lusaka to check on compliance levels.
He said people must take responsibility, unite and resolve to fight Covid-19.
Mr. Ngulube also urged Zambians to observe all the Covid-19 golden rules including vaccination as the vaccines are readily available.
He said the government is on the right track to fight the pandemic and its countrywide interventions are bearing positive results.
