Authorities shuts down 80 bars over negligence

The National Environment Management Council (NEMC) has shut down over 80 bars, including Wavuvi Camp at Coco Beach, Osterbay in Dar es Salaam.

Others are Elements in Masaki, Boardroom, White Cloth, Liquid, Warehouse and Soweto.

In Dodoma NEMC shut down the famous ‘Chako ni chako’ and Rainbow bars while in Mwanza Gentleman and The cask have also been closed.

NEMC Director General Dr Samuel Gwamaka said on Monday that the decision to shut up the famous bars was a result of continued negligence to comply with the Environmental Management Act, 2004 and The Environmental Management (Standards for Control of Noise and Vibration Pollution) Regulations of 2015.

He said, the permissible level of noise for businesses in residential areas is 60 decibels day time and 40 decibels during night time.

Emission of sound beyond these prescribed levels requires a permit from the National Environmental Management Council.

“We instituted fines for a number of them but they continued to defy, we have closed 19 bars in Kinondoni district, 25 Ilala, 22 Kigamboni, 12 bars in Temeke, 5 in Dodoma and 6 in Mwanza.” he said

He said, some bars, despite being warned several times, continued to defy.

“We have taken the step of shutting them down because we have warned them several times but they didn’t listen.. They have already come to ask for forgiveness and to be released.”