The Zambia Gaming Association (ZGA) is concerned that some business houses involved in slot businesses have continued flouting health guidelines to suspend operations as a mitigating measure to curtail further spread of the Covid-19, also known as Coronavirus.
The association has observed that while some business entities like Casinos are fully complying with the directive meant to avoid overcrowding, some entities involved in Slot Businesses especially in the townships are not adhering to the directive with impunity.
ZGA Chairman Gift Simusamba is therefore warning all businesses that are regulated by it that it will not hesitate to recommend revocation of their licences to the Ministry of Finance if found wanting.
While acknowledging that the gaming industry plays a key role in Zambia’s economic make up and job creation, Simusamba notes need for all stakeholders whether foreign or indigenous Zambians to observe the laid down laws and presidential directives.
He has advised ZGA members to endeavour to work closely with government in supplementing it’s efforts of fighting the pandemic that has ravaged the globe and not spared Zambia where 76 cases have been recorded, three deaths, and 37 discharged while 36 remain admitted as of 23rd April 2020.
Zambia currently has one of the highest recovery rate with almost 50% of recorded cases having been discharged. He said ZGA therefore does not want its members to contribute in reversing the gains attained thus far by government through various measures being employed.
In a statement made available to the Zambian Business Times – ZBT by ZGA Public Relations Officer Simon Lungu, ZGA will in the next few days commence a nationwide exercise to ascertain compliance levels of the Health and covid 19 preventive directives for Casinos and businesses operating slot and gaming machines across the country.
