Home Business The Sale of Alcohol Is Still Permitted: Confederation Of Zimbabwe Retailers

The Sale of Alcohol Is Still Permitted: Confederation Of Zimbabwe Retailers

by Kudakwashe Vhenge

BY OWN CORRESPONDENT

On Friday imbibers were shocked when they discovered that the sale of all alcoholic beverages had been banned in most supermarkets around the country, giving rise to fears that a South African style beer ban had been imposed.

However, The President of the Confederation of Zimbabwe Retailers Mr Denford Mutashu clarified the situation saying supermarkets were still permitted to sale.

Mr Mutashu told this publication, that members of the public can still buy alcohol as long as they consume it at home; he added that the ban only applies to bars, restaurants and nightclubs.

The alcohol ban should be restricted to bars, restaurants,  pubs , nightclubs only.  The public should continue to purchase alcohol from supermarkets as long as they consume at home. That is our interpretation of the existing Statutory Instrument, he said.

He also said that the Confederation of Zimbabwe Retailers spoke to the Ministry of Health about the issue

CZR raised the matter with Ministry of Health and Child Care Acting Secretary Dr Mudyiradima who assured clarification will be availed soon, he added.

Yesterday most supermarkets and grocery shops around the country displayed banners that the sale of alcohol was prohibited while others simply removed all alcoholic beverages from their shelves.

This sparked mixed feeling from some imbibers who argued that there was no scientific relation between the consumption of alcohol and the spread of Covid-19.

Economists said the ban on the sale of alcohol would have devastating effects on the economy since the alcoholic beverages industry was a big player in the economy.

While others raised fears that staying at home for a prolonged period of time without alcohol might lead to depression and other mental health-related problems.

Due to the sudden spike in Covid-19 cases last week the government imposed National Lockdown in a bid to curb the spread of the pandemic that has so far claimed the lives of 468 people and infected close to 20 000 others.

Under the new National Lockdown measures, all informal businesses and a majority of formal businesses were ordered to shut down.

The government also restricted the movement of people by imposing a dusk to dawn curfew

Related Articles