COVID19 restrictions on Restaurants causing financial woes

President of the Restaurant Operators Association (ROAZ) Bongai Zamchiya says that COVID19 restrictions permitting partial operation has affected the livelihoods of working staff and suppliers are on the verge of collapsing.

While noting that there is need for urgent reconsideration on the restrictions or financial support.

This follows Health and Child Care Minister, Vice President Constantino Chiwenga’s press statement on Saturday that announced a ban on sit-down dining in restaurants.

In a statement the ROAZ president expressed concern over the renewed closure of restaurants while calling for consideration and assistance upon staff and operators.

“The livelihoods of restaurateurs, staff and suppliers were on the brink of collapse and the only options available were urgent re-opening or immediate and substantial financial support.”

“There is a misperception is that takeaway services, which are still permitted, cover even a reasonable percentage of costs of operation that remain in place for restaurateurs during closure to sit-down dinings, such as wages, rents, security, refrigeration and the many statutory licences paid to central and local government.”

“They do not, as verified by a survey carried out in February, which showed income levels from takeaways of between eight and 18 per cent of normal, which is un-sustaining and unsustainable,” he said.

Governments Covid19 restrictions restaurants have been ordered to permit on restricted time.

As part of the regulations sit ins in restaurants were being banned.

However, the move seem to have been affecting operators.

Zamchiya said that with a long period of restrictions some restaurants have been closed in financial turmoil.

“Restaurants have been either closed or in partial operation for the past 14 months and many have closed permanently, while those remaining all face financial ruin and closure.”

“We request urgent re-opening of restaurants and commit to compliance and to support for measures of safety, knowing that our venues are more hygienic than just about any other business operation or service,” he said.