By MOFFAT CHAZINGWA –

THE Kitwe City Council (KCC) has stepped up its operations to rid the city of drinking places creating a public nuisance and, in conjunction with the State Police, has rounded up 103 commercial sex workers.

The sex workers were last weekend rounded up in the on-going joint operation with the police in drinking places operating after the stipulated business hours.

The operation, which was also extended to markets and residential areas, saw six shops and two houses in Nkana East and Nkana West penalised for selling alcohol contrary to the law.

KCC spokesperson Dorothy Sampa said 103 sex workers were rounded up from various drinking places within the town centre and residential areas such as Chimwemwe and Mindolo townships.

“Seven men were also picked up apart from the 103 commercial sex workers during the raid on these bars and night clubs for mainly loitering because under the law, bars are supposed to open at 10:00 hours and close at 22:00 hours while night clubs are supposed to close at midnight,” she said.

Ms Sampa said six shops at Chisokone Market were closed for trading in alcohol against the Market Act.

A range of liquor brands that included Castle and Mosi, Jonneys, Bols and Shake Shake were confiscated.

Ms Sampa said apart from the assorted liquor brands, other items such as television sets and music systems were also seized from the shops.

“In executing this operation, three acts were taken into account and these include the Market and Bus Station Act, which forbids the sale of alcohol in markets and bus stations and, secondly, the Liquor Licensing Act which stipulates what time bars and night clubs should operate,” she said.

Ms Sampa said the third piece of legislation that guided the operation was the Public Health Act.

“Unfortunately, when you go to most drinking places especially those in markets, you find there are no toilet facilities and people have to use containers placed behind shops and later throw them within the market,” she said.