BULAWAYO – Beer and soft drinks maker Delta Beverages, which obtained a special permit from the government to continue its operations during the 21-day coronavirus lockdown, maintains that sales of alcohol will continue, rejecting reports of a purported police ban.
Delta, the biggest company in Zimbabwe by market capitalisation, said retailers can continue to sell alcohol for off-site consumption as guidelines from Statutory Instrument 82 “only stipulate that you cannot sell alcohol from a public place which is defined to include liquor establishments.”
Patricia Murambinda, Delta’s Corporate Sales Executive, said on Friday: “Off-premise consumption outlets can sell alcoholic products. Issues of public drinking are already outlawed and therefore the police should deal with such offenders.”
Delta, who produce clear beer and the popular carbonated sorghum beer, Supa, were allowed to stay open after Chief Cabinet Secretary Misheck Sibanda wrote to them saying they were providing “essential services.”
Police spokesman Assistant Inspector Paul Nyathi was reported in state media on Friday as having said police were banning all sales of alcohol.
“This comes as we have realised that people who buy alcohol at supermarkets are giving us challenges,” he was quoted as having said. “They buy and drink as groups be it either in their vehicles or places of residence thereby defying social distancing.”
Late Friday, Nyathi backpedalled, saying in a statement that “supermarkets and registered bottle stores can continue selling beer on condition it is consumed off the premises.”
He also warned drinkers against gathering outside their homes.
Lawyers had questioned the legality of the purported ban.
“While the consumption of alcohol may have possible undesirable effects during this period, the police do not have the constitutional or statutory power to ban anything. They’re not lawmakers. They must enforce the law as stated not enforce rules they make up,” said Harare lawyer Fadzayi Mahere.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa announced a 21-day lockdown starting March 30 to curb the spread of the new coronavirus. Supermarkets have been forced to close early, while most businesses remain closed.
