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Ivan Zhakata-Herald Correspondent
RESTAURANT operators have welcomed the decision by Cabinet to allow sit-ins and dining services in, as part of efforts to keep them afloat in the wake of Covid-19 control restrictions.
Cabinet this week announced that restaurants were now allowed to do sit-ins to fully vaccinated people under strict health regulations.
President of the Restaurant Operators Association of Zimbabwe (ROAZ), Mr Bongai Zamchiya said the decision would provide much-needed relief to restaurateurs, who had been in states of closure or partial operation for the past 17 months.
“It is a welcome first step towards normalisation and we thank the authorities for this decision,” he said.
“We also thank our partners during the lobbying effort aimed at obtaining reopening. Restaurateurs have been at the forefront of support for the national fight against Covid-19 and ROAZ has recently helped bring the rate of vaccination among staff in member restaurants to its current rate of 94 percent by a planned set of coordinated mass vaccination events.
“Our objective is safe, sensible dining at all times, providing the correct balance between implementation of suitable regulations and facilitating the provision of dining services to customers.”
ROAZ said reopening would also be welcomed by the hundreds of businesses supplying goods and services to the restaurant industry, including a large number of small to medium enterprises in agriculture, manufacturing and the service sector. The suppliers had been severely challenged by the recent status of minimal restaurant operations.
Mr Zamchiya said the period of closure to sit-down dining had been a massive threat to the restaurant industry, which experienced closure of businesses, job losses and evictions from leased premises.
Many operators had used personal funds to keep people employed and businesses open.
“ROAZ will continue working with its partners to advocate a steady and safe return to full operation and to avoid any further periods of closure. This is essential, not only for restaurateurs but also for all stakeholders.
“It is important to note that evening meals provide between 60 and 80 percent of income for restaurants, so we look forward to extended operating hours that facilitate such dining.
Meanwhile, retailers have appealed for an extension on lockdown trading hours to alleviate the negative impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on businesses.
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