BY SYLVIA MWEETWA –
THE KAPIRI Mposhi District Council has confiscated more than 30 slot machines from various establishments operating gambling activities without permit.
Some concerned residents claimed that many school-going children were absconding lessons or church programmes in preference to gambling.
Council Secretary Hamwende Mpande said the 32 machines were confiscated during its operation following failure by the owners to produce a licence from the Ministry of Finance under the gambling Act .
Mr Mpande said the machines were confiscated after it was discovered that most of them had not followed procedure in setting up the machines as per requirement by the Ministry of Finance.
He said according to the law, the machines were only supposed to be installed in drinking places and other buildings which restrict underage children.
“As a council, we are committed to bringing sanity to Kabwe,” he said.
He said the machines would only be given back once a sum of K1,000 was paid and procedure was followed in setting up the business.
He appealed to those planning to buy the machines to always consult with the council to avoid being inconvenienced.
Some people talked to, commended the council for moving in to bring order.
They said most children were missing school, while others had gone to the extent of stealing money from their parents’ homes to spend on gambling.
