’Ban sale, consumption of
alcohol in Zanzibar’
A MEMBER of the House of Representatives here, Ame Ussi Juma (Nungwi constituency), has urged the Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar to ban sale of alcohol in the islands on argument that it erodes Zanzibaris’ morals and customs.
Making a contribution during a question and answer session, the representative noted that the sale and consumption of alcohol in the isles has led to increased crimes.
Putting in consideration all these factors, it is now high time that bars were banned here in order to protect our people from further morals and customs decay, he stressed.
However, the Minister of State (Presidents Office), regional administration and revolutionary government of Zanzibar’s forces, Suleiman Othman Nyanga, said the sale of alcohol is conducted legally, stressing all bar operators are licensed by the government.
He maintained that sale of alcohol can hardly be banned unless the government amend the law which permits such business.
The state minister clarified also that according to the current law, wananchi could protest bars operating in their vicinity and the court has a mandate of ordering their closure.
Nyanga added that 12 bars have so far been closed in six districts of Unguja after the public filed cases in courts complaining that the bars were inconveniencing them.
The government will be ready to do that if at all they see the need for the public’s sake, Nyanga said
On the other hand, he concurred with the Nungwi representative on the fact that opening and operating bars within people’s residences would help to erode morals.
In his contribution, Juma said currently Zanzibar is surrounded by bars in peoples residential areas hence urged the government to close them.
He said such increase shows how much people have gone beyond the traditions inherited from the elders as alcohol disrupt morals and ethics.
Making a contribution during a question and answer session, the representative noted that the sale and consumption of alcohol in the isles has led to increased crimes.
Putting in consideration all these factors, it is now high time that bars were banned here in order to protect our people from further morals and customs decay, he stressed.
However, the Minister of State (Presidents Office), regional administration and revolutionary government of Zanzibar’s forces, Suleiman Othman Nyanga, said the sale of alcohol is conducted legally, stressing all bar operators are licensed by the government.
He maintained that sale of alcohol can hardly be banned unless the government amend the law which permits such business.
The state minister clarified also that according to the current law, wananchi could protest bars operating in their vicinity and the court has a mandate of ordering their closure.
Nyanga added that 12 bars have so far been closed in six districts of Unguja after the public filed cases in courts complaining that the bars were inconveniencing them.
The government will be ready to do that if at all they see the need for the public’s sake, Nyanga said
On the other hand, he concurred with the Nungwi representative on the fact that opening and operating bars within people’s residences would help to erode morals.
In his contribution, Juma said currently Zanzibar is surrounded by bars in peoples residential areas hence urged the government to close them.
He said such increase shows how much people have gone beyond the traditions inherited from the elders as alcohol disrupt morals and ethics.
The Minister of Tourism, Trade and Investment, Samia Suluhu Hassan (photo above), said it is against the law for restaurants and hotels to refuse to serve guests during the Holy month of Ramadan.
She urged house members to report on any restaurant or hotel that refuses to serve guests during the month, Zanzibar is a tourism spot which is visited by people from different religious backgrounds.
From ThisDAY.
Photo by Chama Cha Watanzania Oslo
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