Block Leaders in Mzuzu City have called on the authorities to consider relocating drinking joints away from residential areas, arguing that this contributes to social and environmental degradation.
The leaders made the call on Friday in Mzuzu during a stakeholders meeting organised by the St. John of God Community Services under the Umoza Children’s Programme.
Senior block leader Manson Mzumara of Zolozolo Township said emergence of pubs in residential areas has come with negative consequences such as noise pollution and bad smell.
“We can’t sleep at night because of noise,” he said, adding that this has made it easy for children to involve themselves in alcohol consumption.
But senior health surveillance assistant for Mzuzu City Davie Chikanda downplayed the possibility of relocating them if owners of such pubs have certificates of trading.
“The most important thing is that relevant authorities need to make sure that owners of such pubs adhere to conditions of their certificates,” he said.
