Bar owners propose new operating times

Bar owners propose new operating timesDemand resumption of on-site drinking Bar owners say Covid-19 regulations which prohibit the sale of alcohol on weekends are driving them into bankruptcy. TUYEIMO HAIDULA

OSHAKATI

Bar owners in northern Namibia took to the streets on Friday protesting against Covid-19 regulations which prohibit the sale of alcohol on weekends.

Health minister Kalumbi Shangula told Namibian Sun yesterday that proposals to change public health regulations are channelled to the monitoring and evaluating committee before any changes are made.

Shangula said the committee is tasked with managing the Covid-19 situation in the country as well as the socio-economic impact of the pandemic.

The current regulations allow bars and shebeens to sell alcohol on a takeaway basis from Monday to Friday between 09:00 and 18:00.

The Oshakati group handed over a petition to the governor of Oshana, Elia Irimari, demanding to be allowed to sell alcohol for on-site consumption from Monday to Saturday between 10:00 and 21:00 and on Sundays from 14:00 to 20:00.

“We also want pool [tables], jukeboxes and jackpots within bars and shebeens permitted to operate in order to save the economy,” the petition read.

Going bankrupt

The owners said their businesses face extinction as they do not have enough sales to stay afloat and are unable to pay their bills and loans, resulting in their assets being repossessed by the banks.

“While we are grateful to the government for working around the clock to safeguard the lives of Namibians, we need to tighten compliance with regulations such as washing of hands and distancing, but not to keep the bars closed,” the group stated.

Irimari said he had forwarded the petition to State House.

tuyeimo@namibiansun.com