Kitwe local authority raids houses in Chimwemwe, Buyantanshi ward for illegal sale of alcohol

Kitwe City Council (KCC) officers, through the Department of Public Health, on Saturday swung into action, raiding six houses in Chimwemwe and Buyantanshi Wards where it seized various merchandise.

According to KCC Public Relations Officer, Mwaka Nakweti, this is in line with the Council’s continued operations to curtail the brewing and sale of illicit alcohol, the sale of alcohol without permits, and the sale of alcohol in non-designated areas.

Nakweti said during the raid, the inspectors confiscated 28 crates and 37 loose bottles of assorted beer, three 10-liter Chibuku Shake Shake containers, one 22-liter bucket of Shake Shake, and three six-packs of sealed Shake Shake, from some houses for both failure by property owners to produce a liquor license and selling alcohol in a non-designated trading area.

She added that the officers also found the owners of two other houses wanting when they caught them brewing a local drink commonly known as “Kachasu” in their backyards, which is contrary to the Liquor Licensing Act No. 20 of 2011 (33) of the Laws of Zambia.

“In addition, two more house owners were caught selling opaque beer in their houses without a liquor license.

The council also confiscated stock from a bar in Buyantanshi for failure to provide a liquor license,” Nakweti said.

She said the stock included five crates of lagers, three six packs of assorted ciders, and two six packs of Chibuku shake-shake.

Nakweti in a statement issued on Saturday in Kitwe said the local authority has noted with great concern the increase in members of the public trading without proper documentation as prescribed by the Laws of Zambia.

“However, as the Council will continue with these operations to ensure maximum compliance from business owners across the city therefore all business owners are urged to regularize their operations to avoid being prosecuted,” She said.

WARNING! All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express permission from ZAMBIA MONITOR