Rise of residential pubs raises eyebrows

Some Mzuzu City residents have decried the rise in the number of night clubs in residential areas,  alleging that the development is a security threat.

Speaking on Saturday at a meeting organised by a consortium of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in the city, Chibanja ward councillor Charles Mlogera said his area alone has 18 pubs which operate throughout the night.

He said: “The problem we have is that these pubs are in residential areas and they create a lot of noise. They are also a threat to school going children, more especially girls.”

Mzuzu City Council Planning and Development Committee member Judith Chiume, who is also Msongwe ward councillor, said the problem comes because of conflict between the council, Malawi Housing Corporation (MHC) and the Department of Lands.

“We are in the process of coordinating these three offices. Preferably, we want all land to be in the hands of council for planning purposes. Otherwise, there is a conflict between these three as some of them can give out land to people to come up with pubs even in areas the council deems not good for such a business,” she said.

The meeting was one of activities CCAP Synod of Livingstonia, Voice of Livingstonia Radio Station and Phunzirani Development Organisation are undertaking in the Northern Region with funding from National Democratic Institute (NDI) and the Department for International Development (DfID).n