Online Reporter
Ivan Zhakata
Herald Correspondent
HARARE City Council has shut down Cosmopolitan Restaurant and Bar in Alexandra Park after the establishment was found operating with an expired liquor licence, missing statutory approvals and outstanding tax obligations.
The closure was effected following a compliance inspection at Stand No. 31, Fleetwood Road, where council officials established multiple regulatory breaches.
Documents indicate that the restaurant’s special liquor licence expired on July 29, 2024 and had not been renewed, rendering the establishment’s continued operations unlawful.
Council officials also found that the operator failed to produce a valid Zimbabwe Investment and Development Agency (ZIDA) licence, a mandatory requirement for commercial hospitality enterprises.
Council records further showed that the establishment owes the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) more than US$14 000 in unpaid taxes and does not hold a valid tax clearance certificate (ITF 263), a key requirement for licence renewal and lawful trading.
Supporting documents required for liquor licence renewal, including a health inspection report and ZIMRA tax clearance certificate, were not produced during the inspection.
A closure notice has since been placed at the premises, ordering the immediate cessation of operations until all compliance requirements are met.
Patrons who visited the establishment following the enforcement action found the doors locked and operations suspended.
Council said the operation forms part of an ongoing citywide compliance blitz targeting restaurants, bars and other hospitality outlets to ensure adherence to licensing, health and taxation regulations.
