Government says it will soon introduce an Alcohol Bill to parliament as a control measure against the increased levels of acohol consumption in the country.
Religious Affairs and Guidance Minister Godfredah Sumaili says once enacted , the Bill will regulate alcohol consumption in the country especially by the youths.
“ Excessive beer drinking among youths in the country has reached is alarming hence coming up with a piece of legislation to regulate drinking, “ Reverend Sumaili said.
Speaking in an interview with ZANIS in Lusaka today, the Minister said Government is greatly concerned about the abuse of alcohol by young people in Zambia.
“Alcohol abuse is unproductive at home and the nation at large. Therefore, Government is contemplating coming up with a legislation to regulate this vice among youths,” she said.
She said alcohol is unproductive and not only does it devastates homes but negatively retards national development.
Government, she added, would work closely with other stakeholders on the contents of the bill whilst reaffirmed its commitment to promoting good values and morals in young people in order to foster national development.
She noted that Zambia is a Christian nation therefore her dignity should be respected, upheld in line with the values and principles enriched in the constitution.
The development is in line with Republican President Edgar Lungu ‘s recent call during his address to the nation on the need to promote values and moral by all well-meaning Zambians.
Mr. Lungu expressed in his national address expressed his concern at the high levels of alcohol and substance abuse among the youths which he said has contributed to moral decay among the young people.
President Lungu however revealed that his government is making steady progress in strengthening the enforcement of the relevant laws and regulations so as to curb alcohol and substance abuse.
And in her message ahead of the Esther Holiday, the Minister urged the people to reflect their lives and dedicate themselves to God.
Zambia will on Friday March 30th, 2018 observe Good Friday, Holy Saturday and Sunday and Monday culminating into Esther Holiday.
It is during this period that the Minister is also requesting the church to rise to the occasion and bring the lost sheep to Christ through exhibiting good values and morals as opposed to the youths drinking irresponsi
Just ban the sale of beer. Doctors have always said it is dangerous to health. Do not fear the big brewries who make huge profits and rejoice the misery of the drunkards.
haaaa tizamya chani u pipo especially pama holidays
Which doctor ever said that? Serious Doctors know the benefits of drinking. Doctors wont say drinking is bad or drinking is good. Its on a case by case.
This hypocrite again..mukayakandwa kuli lesa.
Why do you regulate corruption and stealing from govt. Start by regulating yourself
*dont*
Too much stealing in PF government.The President is number one thief and followed by his ministers including yourself Godfridah.You are also stealing from the government because your ministry is a farce..just wasting taxpayers money
She wants to regulate beer consumption among youth which can be up to the age of 40 in Zambia..really laughable..yet she can not regulate underage drinking and is quiet when people are talking about corruption..vile woman!!
WHEN HEADS ARE HEAVY DUE TO THE WEEKS BUSY SCHEDULES, AND WHEN IT’S FRIDAY THEY SHOUT IN UNISON “THANK GOD IT’S FRIDAY” BWANA MADAM, I SAY YOU WILL NOT ACHIEVE THAT. ZAMBIANS AND BEER ARE LIKE DOOR FRAME AND DOOR.
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Just try your luck, but I think you will fail. Remember, nowadays daughters drink like their fathers.
You are a politician, so, yours is about policies and policy making.
Regulate ’em drinkers, maybe UPNDEADs will sober up then.
Twapapata this is like ukutwikata kuma****. There’s only one person I know who needs control.
Is this regulation because of Mumbi Phiri’s behavior?
KK AS PRESIDENT ONCE BEMOANED AND THREATENED TO RESIGN BECAUSE HE DID NOT WANT TO LEAD A NATION OF DRUNKARDS.
NOTHING’S CHANGED IT SEEMS.
WE WALLOW ON IN A DRUNKEN HAZE AS FOREIGNERS TAKE OVER OUR COUNTRY.
Can you imagine Godfridah walking around without under wear…yack am about to throw up
@tambatamba have you ever heard of the prohibition era in the U.S? alot of gangtas made money with the underground sale of alcohol on the black market and the government lost alot of revenue of the process not mention the number of people who lost their jobs. PS. i know a number of doctors who drink volumes…so unless you want a new breed of jerabos dealing in liquor just do you and the the drinkers do them.
start with state house..let us advocate for an alcohol free state house. I am sure the sale of land to foreigners will stop.
The global war on cigarette smoking is paying dividends and more and more people have given up smoking. The same campaign should be waged againg beer. Beer breaks marriages, beer causes accidents, BEER KILLS!!!
Smoking was not controlled by Religious Ministers.
Ban on Sex Toys; Limitations on alcohol consumption; restrictions on ones choice not to wear knickers; threats to curtail social media – the list is becoming endless. Madam Minister of Fairy tales, please know that other than an outright ban on alcohol, there is no way you can really limit alcohol consumption. please go ahead with your restrictions and Zambia will become a bootleggers paradise with Zambia Brewaries finding itself at the wrong end of the stick. You are about to kill a thriving industry. Please do not impose your morality on the nation ba mayo.
prostitution is illegal but its everywhere especially devil street right next to the minister’s church.
This will be a hard law to enforce in a country where the majority of people love to enjoy a good drink. I doubt if regulations will bring about any significant change anyone’s consumption.
Give the people better alternatives in their life and they will stop getting drunk aimlessly.
*PEOPLE THEMSELVES SHOULD LOOK FOR ALTERNATIVES NOT GOVERNMENT.
LIKE READING AND IMPROVING THEMSELVES. AND GOING TO CHURCH.
NO SPOON FEEDING!!
will the new law also apply to politicians? because eishh those guys can drink. remember what shakaz said about parliament motel and the reason why Mumbi Phiri is on suspension?
The useless Minister Godfredah Sumaili is up again looking for something to keep her busy and justify her useless ministry!!
Welcome news. This is long over due my lady. First ban small packaged spirits or crest before enforcing this law.
Those doubting the negative effects of beer kindly visit chainama mental hospital. Even if you employ these youths they can’t do any hard work
Lol ukubuta
How about increasing the drinking age from 18 to 25…maybe that can help
Some 18 year olds drunkards look 26 years old. And how do you verify their ages,? Ask for NRCs,??
The brewers make you drunk and donate alcohol detecting devices to police, just bring the law mweee
True! Regulate also the so called shatembas like the ones in Matero and Libala and seemingly mushrooming all over to support nothing but beer drinking and heavy prostitution!
Comment:And you think tithes and offerings will run the government, what about the people employed by the breweries, are you going to employ them…mxxxxmm ifya bupuba ukutali
Excessive beer drinking is largely due to lack of meaning jobs. Just create quality jobs and u will see that excessive beer drinking will naturally go down. Deal with fire and not smoke.
Make a law that classifies alcohol as a drug, as is in America and western europe.
Iron mentor….bwanji malume!
the nation can do is to impose a k0.5 to every bottle of alcohol regardless of size and type. Revenue channelled to health provision .
Forget about ban…alcohol is the only product that get through hard to reach places.
Surely you are joking,in Zambia?It will never work.Hahaha
Majority of Zambian youths drink because they don’t have anything to do. Its not that they like drinking. Tell Edgar Lungu to create jobs so that they can get something to make them busy!
This is a very brilliant idea to create employment to mount not only road blocks for drunkards but also path-blocks to check drunks! Am sure this will swallow all unemployed people in Zambia to fill all roads, paths and crowded areas
so we’ll starve and suffer because of Mumbi Phiri, then bring back tujilijili at least they can fit in the pocket without anyone noticing
As Saudi Arabia loosens Zambia becomes obscure. Is there a deal with the Saudis to redeploy the Religious Police to Zambia. Looks the job market for foreigners is widening!
Does any one ever head of Prohibition? It created Al Capone.
icindikeni, you are too immoral to suspend corruption. how then will you achieve limiting alcohol intake!
Start at state house.
This is a very good move and long overdue. Too much boozing is going on and we are having too many idle minds sitting at taverns and devising evil deeds on how to beat their wives, commit ra.pe on innocent women, commit assault and robbery etc etc booze when abused is a serious problem. We have a problem of alcoholism in Zambia and its very sad we have not declared it a national disaster because it is. Drinking in moderation is alright and can be good for the digestion- one or two beers or glass of wine after a meal is advisable but what is happening here is serious and a national crisis.
The laws are already there Madam-time to open drinking places, age limit, types of alcohol to sale etc. Just enforce them. Period.
Tread carefully madam, I hope your boss does not hear you
Regulating alcohol consumption falls under the Ministry of Health,Local government,Home Affairs….NOT religious affairs because that will just cause a backlash from people from other religions.Why is Ministry of health sleeping this is supposed to be their fight.
Religious Affairs is a moral conduit, so they can actually speak up. They protect Zambia’s moral compass.
Beautiful if it can work. Also, let the children off. They shouldn’t buy or be buying cigarettes. That is how HaJay got spoiled. His father is a lazy bum so he thinks respectable leaders who are working hard in this nation are like his father.
Are you related to Lazy Lungu that you are making it personal…what’s respectable about him? Did you not hear what Mumbi Phiri was calling him in Chilanga?
what has HH got to do with it…you cant make sense out of your comments so SHUT UP
Did you consult? Remember how you failed to close bars during cholera?
“She noted that Zambia is a Christian nation therefore her dignity should be respected, upheld in line with the values and principles enriched in the constitution.“
1. Do you value your voters?
2. Are you faithful to them?
3. Do you believe in the people you are serving?
That’s problem when you have an ill-conceived ministry without clear mandate, ToR.
Just making noise in order to appear to work to do and relevant.
TRUE@ JUDGE CHIKOPO….useless ministry and has got nothing better to do. why cant she think of more constructive ideas to do with religions etc. help build more churches with adequate spaces and also check up on the fake priests and prophets
There is unemployment in our country, teenagers and youths are uncomfortable to be home the whole day, hence, indulge in drinking activities to calm there nerves and mingle. Stopping them from such activities will increase a number of thieves in our nation. The only tangible solution is to find them JOBS, and not those figures of employment you are lying to us.
WHAT IS THIS PF AND ITS LEADERSHIP REFERENT FROM THE SANHEDRIN DURING JESUS’ CRUCIFIXION TIME. ROMANS MISTREAT JESUS- PASSION WEEK- HH WAS MISTREATED DURING THIS WEEK 2017, CHISHIMBA KAMBWILI ALSO PASSION WEEK – , JESUS WAS SENTENCED TO DEATH -GOOD FRIDAY- HH WAS SENTENCED – GOOD FRIDAY, TODAY CHISHIMBA WANT TO BE SENTENCED THIS FRIDAY.
IS PF AND ITS LEADERSHIP CHRISTIAN OR ANT-CHRIST?
In her usual style, madam Godfridah is busy plotting to confront the effect rather than the cause of alcoholism. Good lack
Ba Minister mwaikata abantu kumaisobole.
Minister, Just because you blocked Zodwa does not mean you can block alcohol. The two are totally different.
Don’t you know that men are traumatised in homes?. You reach home and find 16 visitors. The only thing that makes us men survive is beer. Mwilaikata abantu kumutshima.
Regulate beer drinking…very laughable indeed.Is this the reason Edgar Lungu created a Ministry of Religious Affairs for this failed Woman Reverand to begin to talk about something unattainable and just how will it work…if it’s in town well and good but how about in remote places/villages? No wonder Zambians were against the idea of this Ministry because it does not serve any purpose except draining tax payers money
Last night I saw a drunk man staggering on the main road going to his home and his trousers was all wet in front. Anazitundila mudala zoona, and he was going home to his family, shame. I drink but just in moderation.
this country is a beer den. our kids, my own kid, have fallen victim to this vice. take a walk in the streets and look at the faces of most young people. their livers are deteriorating.
time to control alcohol abuse is now, or never
Is this you all think about? Think of delopmental issues n less tax. We are suffering, n when you ban how are breweries workers going to survive?
Idle mind very dangerous hence to solve that you have to make the minds of people active otherwise the whole issue nonstarter
FIRST U BANNED US FROM GETTING AROUSED WITH SEX TOYS LATER FROM SEEING ZODWA’S KNICKERS NOW ALCOHOL.THEN BAN US FROM SLEEPING WITH OUR WIVES AS WELL THEN WE’LL BE DRINKING CHIBWANTU AND VISUALISING SEX TOYS
Municipal bye laws are the but not just enforced. Just like the constitution is there and you dont want to follow what it says. Similarly, you will introduce a bill but wont follow it still. We now know that you are good at talking but do very little to implement laws. Shame on us
Comment:bakama normal,I think tour thinking is very nani
Firstly, this shouldn’t be coming from this ministry. Secondly, this not just about more regulation, especially in a country that doesn’t even have the capacity to enforce the same. This is an off shoot of things that are going wrong at the base. Drinking is worse currently in Zambia and it is not rocket science to discern that the causes lie in the social economic underpinnings. In a country polarised by the wealthy minority controlling most of the resources and the majority poor struggling to eke out a living, both sides will drink heavily, but for different reasons. This government is all talk. What has it created to occupy the youths or divert them from resorting to drinking as a pass-time or call for help? And where is the help?
Thats not the right way of reducing alcoholism madam. Try to do proper investigation and health promotion strategies that reduces consumption.
Make a qualitative and quantitative research first, thereafter try to read the results yourself with a critical mind. You might be one of the contributors to the heavy drinking due to the economic marginalization of Zambians.
Mind you Minister read the reliable academic research alcoholism might a genetic inheritance. Please try to help with a proper approach. Otherwise you end promoting mashabini back to the business..
PF is abusing Parliament process to pass laws that suit their agenda! The bible says give beer to the person who is perishing so that they may forget their problems! Most Zambians are perishing in this harsh economy PF has created! While I hate drunkenness, I feel PF is going about this the wrong way! Have they consulted the citizens or done a research to justify this move? A country where leaders use emotions to pass laws is not a safe one! The rule of men and women is being disguised to be the rule of law which is wrong! Bad Laws only work to the advantage of leaders and lawyers who cash in from these lacunae in the constitution! What a country!