Minister Bagus shuts down Beirut market for selling to teens ‘shisha’ water-pipe tobacco smoking
Ministry of Industry, Trade and tourism has closed Beirut Coffee Shop in Lilongwe for operating business without trade tourism license, poor hygiene, furniture, toilets and allowing smoking of water-pipe tobacco, commonly known as shisha to teenagers among others.
In an interview, Minister for the ministry, Salim Bagus said the shop failure to comply with minimum standards in accordance with tourism and hotel Act, Cap 50:01 of the laws of Malawi.
“The premises shall remain closed for a week up until tourism and hotels board re-opens it after the owner of the shop renovates the infrastructure into a minimum standard and pay fine of K100, 000 for the offence,” he said.
Bagus added that the shop also sale tobacco called Shisha to teenagers starting from 4 pm till the wee hours that damage and affect a lot of teenagers in as far as physiologic was concerned in the country.
To curb the challenge, the Minister highlighted that tourism and hotel board under his ministry would employ qualifies personnel’s that will assist them to monitor hotels, restaurants in the country.
He pointed out that tourism and hotel board would continue closing shops that are not comply with minimum standards in accordance with tourism and hotel Act of having quality environment that will attract tourists within and outside the country.
Manager for Beirut Coffee Shop, Youssef Nassaur promises to apply for the trade tourism license and renovate the shop to reach the minimum standards in accordance with trade tourism Act.
“We are going to bring good furniture and paint the walls of the shop including renovates some of our toilets to fit the standards that the ministry wants within the period given by the tourism and hotel board ends,” he assured.
Beirut Coffee Shop started it operation without Trade Tourism License for one and half year in the country but it has only Malawi Bureau of Standards (MBS) license.
Malawians let us learn to appreciate if our political leaders do something positive. We have needed this type of Ministerial intervention for a very long time. In Tanzania we hail Magufuli because he visits even the slums to do inspections.
Hon Bagus please do not be deterred. Actually most of the technicians from city, tourism, trade and MBS are too corrupt to police errant business operators. They are contributors of poor standards, too compromised. Go visit even a thousand business places Hon.
After MBS, City Council and Tourism it needs a whole Minister to inspect an ordenary restaurant and entertainment centre?
Do you not generating enough bribes?
Well done Honourable Minister, you deserve a pat on the back, this shows where you see a problem you go there personally, keep it up.
You have to take departments under your ministry to task as there is too much corruption at Malawi Bureau of Standards.
Let not negative comments here deter you from your work.
Pay the Minister his bribe and he will move on to other bribe payers. It is his known routine.
Bagus is doing this to raise tension among the business community so that in the end he gets something. What he is doing is typical ploy to rob business people. There is no need for a whole Minister to be involved in closing business premises for not meeting the set standard. What will Malawi Bureau of Standards do instead? Bagus must immediately stop this as this. This used to happen during Kamuzu Banda’s era before the establishment of MBS.
we know its not the ministers job but he has sent a good messege to the would be offenders.
qualifies, promises, renovates…… Atolankhani a mana amenewo? Please improve or go back to school
Yes especially the receptionist, one time he didn’t let me bring my speaker to the top. They all smell like fart, these guys.
I don’t why mans calling me family all of a sudden. Like hmm, my mum don’t know your mum stop telling man you’re my cousin.
Why is the minister there? Are there no enforcement officers to conduct the the closure etc?