No new liquor stores for Harare CBD

Munyaradzi Doma

The Secretariat to the Liquor Board has tentatively resolved that Harare’s Central Business District will not have new liquor licences as a means to curb the proliferation of outlets which are close to bus termini.

It was resolved that the tentative measure, shall be in place until the Liquor Board makes a definite resolution on the matter.

This follows a letter of request which had been made by the Passenger Association of Zimbabwe calling on the Liquor Board to revoke licences of bars and bottles stores which are operating near termini.

PAZ allege that having outlets close to bus termini has led many drivers to consume alcohol while on duty thereby causing accidents.

In response to PAZ’s request, the secretariat revealed that it had noted the issue and directed it to the Board for their attention.

“Tentatively however in the meantime, the Secretariat to the Board has resolved that: Harare CBD will not have any new licence until the Board has passed a resolution to that effect.

“We are carrying out a licence audit within the CBD to determine the density of the establishments and the magnitude of the problem.

“The Board will sit and resolve the issue of the already licenced premises which are close to bus termini across Zimbabwe,” read a letter signed by P Kusotera, Secretary for Liquor Licensing Board.

The Secretariat further added: “We hope that this will address the said concerns, notwithstanding approvals and authorities which might be issued by the Local Authorities.”

Tafadzwa Goliati, PAZ National Coordinator, had written to the Board, arguing that bars and bottle stores in the proximity of bus termini had led to many accidents, as some drivers drive while intoxicated.

“We have observed with dismay that licensed bottle stores and bars are operating in Harare, in Mbare and Central Business District, Copacabana and Rezende Parkade.

“As a result, passenger service vehicle drivers are driving under the influence of alcohol.

“Consequently, this endangers the lives of passengers and other road users through traffic accidents,” said Goliati.

He added: “We request you to consider the proximity of a liquor selling store or bar to a bus terminus before granting a licence.

“We also make a plea for such licences, where they exist in Zimbabwe to be revoked.

“We are also concerned that some people are using vehicles and their vending businesses to illicitly sell liquor.”

Goliati further reiterated that as the commuter omnibus crews will be waiting to load passengers, some are taking that opportunity to drink beer “while on national duty, which is a danger to other road users”.

Driving under the influence is among the top causes of accidents and according to a Road Safety Performance Review on Zimbabwe, which singled out human error as the major cause of accidents.

The review further states that according to a research conducted in 2018 by the Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe, 94 percent of road crash accident deaths and injuries are due to human error rather than vehicle defects.

While there are other reasons that lead to commuters dying on the roads, alcohol consumption by drivers is a major cause of road traffic deaths and serious injury.