Thelma Wandayi
GWERU – Local bars and night clubs in Gweru have illegally opened doors to revelers amid national lockdown measures that were placed towards reducing the threats of spreading Covid-19.
A snap survey by CommuTalk revealed that most bars have opened shop after finding way to dodge sporadic raids by law enforcement agents, mostly through supposed underhand deals, whereas those that have not publicly opened shop are selling beer from backdoors whilst shabeens have also been on the rise.
Pabloz Gweru has also been the only night club evidently open on 10 and 11 July 2020 and filled to capacity thereby directly violating lockdown regulations and Covid-19 prevention measures as social distancing and face-masks.
While contacted for comment, Tapiwanashe Matangaidze, Pabloz Gweru proprietor’s mobile phone was answered by an unidentified male who denied having opened business.
“We were not open and currently Pabloz has not been operating. We have been closed,” said the recipient.
This is however against evidence gathered by this publication which shows that between the days in question, the fancy night club charged USD5 entrance fees added to beer sales inside.
Disc Jokeys were also at their best in provision of music and at some moment one pleaded with revelers not to demand back tips they would have brought to the Dj Box.
Speaking to the national broadcaster recently, chairperson of the Midlands Covid-19 taskforce, Senator Larry Mavhima who is also the Minister of State said government will prosecute and cancel licenses of those found on the wrong side of the law.
“We have received such reports from our security teams and we cannot allow lawlessness to prevail in the Province. We are fighting an invisible enemy that requires strict adherence to the law. We will soon be cancelling licenses of such non-abiding enterprises,” Mavhima said.
The Midlands province has since recorded two Covid-19 related deaths and with the number of positive cases surging each day, government prompted a review of the lockdown restrictions with the latest being postponement to opening of schools.
Similarly, Covid-19 cases have been spiraling across the nation at large with Zimbabwe currently having 1064 cases, 20 deaths against 343 recoveries.
Meanwhile, neighboring South Africa recently reversed their decision to re-open sale of beer citing the wise waters as the major cause to increasing numbers of Covid-19 cases in the country.
