Lungu Orders Schools To Reopen, Bars To Partially Reopen

President Lungu has directed that schools colleges and universities should reopen between September 14 and September 28, following closure due to the coronavirus pandemic. 

This follows the partial reopening of colleges for examination classes only in June. 

Mr Lungu made the announcement during the ceremonial reopening of parliament on Friday.

The president has also partially lifted coronavirus restrictions on bars and nightclubs, which will be allowed to operate between 18:00 and 23:00 from Friday to Sunday. 

However, the president said he would not hesitate to reimplement restrictions if people failed to comply with Covid-19 guidelines, including hand-washing and maintaining social distance. 

The announcement comes after longstanding agitation from the bar and nightclub industry that the restrictions were unfair and bad for business.

Many establishments continued to operate despite the presidential directive, with almost 50 bars in Lusaka cautioned for breaking regulations in July. 

So far there have been 12,952 cases of Covid-19 in Zambia, with 296 deaths.