Bar, club owners feel targeted
One of the measures in place to contain the spread of Covid-19 is restrictions on public gatherings to a maximum of 50 people. Bars and clubs are also operating only up to 8pm. This is not sitting well with owners of entertainment places who feel the measures are killing their businesses. Our reporter BRIAN ITAI caught up with Bar Owners Association (Southern Chapter) Macdonald Soko to discuss this issue and its effect on the entertainment trade.
Q
: May you introduce yourself?
A
: My name is Macdonald Soko. I am the managing director of Club 20 Four 7 Kameza in Blantyre. I am also the interim general secretary of the yet-to-be-registered Bar Owners Association (Southern Chapter).
Q
:Why was this association formed?
A
: As bar and club owners, we have a duty to entertain our clients and safeguard our business operations. We know that in unity there is power. Of course, as I stated, we are working on technicalities of having the association registered in the near future.
Q
: Who are some of the interim leaders of the association?
A
: We have the interim chairperson Eliah Sikwese of Pa Squecy, our treasurer is Monica Banda, myself and four other executive members
Q
: Do you perhaps plan to today have a national body instead of these regional associations?
A
: The grouping began in the Southern Region. I am aware there are similar groups in the Central and Northern regions and we are in touch with the leadership in these regions. Our ambition is to have a national grouping which would give national representation. As you are aware, it is not a mini task to mobilise people throughout the country or regions. We shall successfully strive to have the national association registered with regional representation.
Q
: When do you plan to elect a national committee?
A
: It is my hope and belief that if we put our efforts together, by August this year we may have a fully registered association. We shall soon be engaging our legal team to spearhead the technical requirements for the registration of a national association. This is the only way for us to survive the harsh conditions imposed on us by the government and a lack of consultation by greedy politicians.
Q
: Currently, with Covid-19, bars and clubs have some conditions and strict measures to follow. How have your businesses been affected by the status quo?
A
: The restrictions imposed by the government due to Covid-19, especially limiting public gatherings to 50 have killed our businesses. It is both surprising and very biased in its implementation and enforcement. The government has failed to enforce a ban on other forms of public gatherings such as markets, which pose a bigger danger of acting as catalyst in the spread of Covid-19. But all eyes are on bars and clubs which accommodate very few people. Bars and clubs have become easy targets for police officers who have started cashing in on the situation. It is very surprising that markets patronised by thousands of people are left to operate normally, but a bar or club attended by five to 10 people, who are able to observe physical distancing have become targets of police raids. I also have to condemn in strongest terms the behaviour of some police officers who have been physically beating up and torturing innocent Malawians on the pretext of reinforcing Covid-19 preventive measures. It is our only hope that government will consider lifting restrictions that are denying Malawians an opportunity to entertainment. These restrictions have also rendered many Malawians jobless.
Q
: What would you have wished government to do to meet you halfway?
A
: As bar and club owners, we would like to request the government to increase time of operation for bars and clubs from 8pm to at least 10pm as a gradual process to going back to normal operating hours. We understand Covid-19 is real. We have felt its effects and lost loved ones, but we also have a duty and responsibility to offer entertainment to Malawians as well as do business to support our families. I believe we have a listening government which will address our concerns. We wrote a letter explaining the hardships we are experiencing to the Presidential Task Force on Covid-19 and we may take other necessary steps depending on the feedback we receive.
Q
: How much business have you lost during this period?
A
: We have lost a lot in terms of monetary and human resources. Monetary wise, we have lost millions. Many of our employees have lost jobs, many bars have completely closed down due to failure to pay rentals, utility bills such as water and electricity have been disconnected in many business places. We are that desperate!
