BARS, just like many other public facilities that attract large gatherings, are supposed to operate under specific health guidelines that include good sanitation and hygiene.
It is for this reason that before a trading liquor license is issued, council officials from the department of health are required to inspect operating premises to ensure that the environment conform to the required minimum health standards.
Talking of good sanitation and hygiene, one critical component that comes to play is a well functioning toilet which should have running water.
But to hear a report that the local authority in Choma is allegedly offering liquor licenses to premises without toilet facilities, prompting patrons to answer the call of nature in abandoned market stalls is unfortunate.
The allegation by Shampande market vice-chairperson Cosmas Kabaza during a district epidemic preparedness committee meeting that abandoned shops in markets are being used as toilets is a health hazard to the community.
We are aware that one of the conditions before allowing a bar to operate is to certify the sanitation facilities at the premises.
The liquor license offer to premises without such facilities is said to be as a result of some council officers not inspecting the area to ascertain if it is conducive to operate as a drinking place.
Time and again, we have expressed concern about some council officer’s negative attitude towards work. This has to end if local authorities countrywide are to provide proper services to the public.
Markets or trading places are usually filled to capacity making them prone to diseases particularly in the absence of sanitation facilities.
While all efforts are being done to fight the Covid-19 pandemic, it is important to be alert on other waterborne diseases which should be avoided.
The Choma Municipal Council should not only be interested in giving out liquor licenses but inspect premises before doing so.
We would like to urge them to ensure that bottle store owners that want to operate their businesses as bars be closed or a penalised for not adhering to the regulations.
They should therefore re-inspect and ensure all bottle store owners adhere to the health guidelines.
Councils through the department of public health have a huge responsibility of protecting residents by ensuring that businesses operate in a conducive environment and provide the best services to citizens.
It is the duty of local authorities countrywide to promote and encourage traders to operate in a clean and healthy environment with sanitation facilities in place.
