Open bars

Kaili ni new normal living apa manje’ SIMON MUNTEMBA writes BAR owners and patrons have pleaded with Government to consider opening bars and night clubs in order to set the economy rolling, saying “kaili ni new normal living apamanje, open the premises we continue with business.” They have lamented the devastating impact of lockdown regulations amid COVID-19 which they said has left them without an income, food and some are on the brink of losing their homes. In an interview, Lesley Chabala, a bar owner in Lusaka’s Matero area who expressed dismay at the continued closure of bars and night clubs  told the Sun that he was now battling to make ends meet due to continued closure of bars. “We were making our living out of these bars, but due to the lockdown, all our streams of income have dried up, and we are now battling to make ends meet,” Mr Chabala said. He appealed to Government to allow them to open while observing social distancing norms and other preventive measures. “Let them allow us to open like they did with the restaurants and other businesss kaili its new normal, we will be observing the preventive measures,” Mr Chabala said. Meanwhile, several Facebook users have also called on the Government to open bars to allow them freely have access to bars and night clubs. In a social poll recently conducted by the The Sun on whether the bars should be opened or not, about 70 percent of the people were in support of opening bars. Below are some of the comments by Facebook followers on the Lusaka Sun/The Zambian Sun official page: Isaac Chilombo -Yes so that we can sanitize our internal organs Ramox Sinkala -They should be opened kaili they are some who depends on bars as a business so will be unfair for them if we say they shouldn’t be opened. Teddy Deogratius Malunga II -This issue doesn’t require a poll, remember that other’s income comes from this and we can’t ignore it Enova Sinkala – Bars should be opened yes Vj Manchala -They should be opened Enock Sinkala – Let them be opened Florence Soko – Let them open The Sun