Musicians, Bar Owners Cry Foul, Petition Govt

By Kundai Marunya
Musicians and bar owners have challenged Government’s stance to keep them closed down under the Covid-19 restrictive measures.

This follows Minister of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Kazembe Kazembe’s recent pronouncement that bars remain closed, which prompted a joint military and police raid on defiant operators leading to many arrests.
The leisure hubs, which were shut down in March, are yet to fully open even after sectors such as tourism were granted reprieve close to two months ago.

Schools have also remained open despite a rise in infections among students, while borders are opening up for pedestrians and private vehicles tomorrow.

Cross-border buses are expected to be fully operational by the first quarter of next year yet bars and night clubs have not been signaled with a possibility of opening up anytime soon.

Imbibers currently source their liquor from supermarkets and bottle stores with stringent requirements to only drink at home while purchases are only made during the day.

The absence of bars has paved the way for shebeens that illegally operate in many residential areas to thrive. These operate in cahoots with law enforcement agencies who are bribed to look the other way.
To avoid raids, some shebeens lock up their patrons in poorly aerated rooms so that they can drink without interruptions.

Conditions at shebeens, where preventive measures including wearing masks, temperature checks and sanitising people are often ignored, are however ripe for the spread of the dreaded virus.

Some bar owners have since come together to form an association whose first assignment is to lobby Government to let them operate under World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines.

“We are finalising the formation of an association that will lobby Government to allow us to operate in line with WHO set guidelines on prevention of the spread of Covid-19,” said Tineyi Mandombo, who operates a string of night clubs and bars across Harare.

Mandombo said they have lost a lot of revenue due to closure.
“Collectively in Harare alone, bars and night clubs employ over 30 000 people and continued closure will result in many people losing their livelihoods.

“Since March we have been paying rentals for spaces that are not in use while most of us have been paying workers who are not even working,” he said.

Mandombo said Government’s stance on bars will result in unemployment.

Meanwhile, another bar operator who preferred anonymity said police are demanding bribes from those that defy Government.

“On a daily basis police officers come demanding bribes of around US$10, which is unfair as we are now enriching corrupt police officers as we try to maintain our income flows,” she said.

In recent media reports, the ZRP, through their spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyati, invited members of the public to report corruption.

“If we report them they will then shut us down for good thus it is better to pay the bribes. It is, however, best if we are allowed to freely operate, in that case no one would demand anything from us.”

Mandombo said as a sector they contribute meaningfully towards the Government purse through taxes.

“On social media we see pictures of parties attended by multitudes of people. Most attendees won’t even be wearing masks. Ginimbi’s funeral was attended by thousands who were seen on pictures drinking yet Government bars us from operating,” he said.

“We can regulate our customers and control the environment to be Covid-19 free, while benefiting the Government through taxes. Why not let us operate?”

Bars and night clubs also benefit musicians through live shows. These have ceased to happen leaving many musicians in desolation.
Afro-jazz musician Portifa Mopo said bar closures have largely affected band members.

“I know of some bands that are not going to be together when the lockdown ends as most people are now involved in many dealings. Relying on live shows is not working,” he said.
“This era has affected band members who relied solely on music, thus we kindly ask our Government to consider opening the sector.” Nhau/Indaba