Ministry plans operation anti-drink, drive

Homeland Security Minister Kenneth Zikhale Ng’oma has disclosed that his ministry will introduce anti-drink and drive operations aimed at reducing cases of road accidents in the country.

Ng’oma said this in Parliament Tuesday when lawmakers expressed concern that breathalysers have killed businesses in Lilongwe.

Ng’oma said police officers will continue arresting those found driving while drunk.

“I will say that again and again; a drunkard is the one we will catch in this operation. If you are drunk and you are driving, you will be taken. No discussions about that.

“What we want is to reduce cases of road accidents in our country. So, yes, we will arrest you if you drink and drive. As such, be warned; make sure you don’t drink or else get yourself a driver or a taxi when drunk. Simple—nothing wrong with that. We are following the law,” Ng’oma said.

Meanwhile, Transport and Public Works Minister Jacob Hara has warned imbibers to mind about drinking limits.

“The United Nations is working on policies on alcohol levels that will be more strict than the ones we have now. So, this is just to inform the House that we will get very strict on alcohol levels,” Hara said.

But Lilongwe City West Member of Parliament George Zulu blamed continued use of breathalysers at night as one of the factors compromising business operations in the city.

“My constituents are suffering because of this. Bars are closing and this is not healthy for our economy.

“Now, my question is: What should people do now because my constituents are suffering?” Zulu said.