It has emerged that a number of bottle stores and liquor shops in Luchenza municipality in Thyolo have been operating without licenses.

The traders attribute this to delays by council authorities to issue the licenses.

Chairperson of Luchenza station executive committee, Philip Nyoni, says for the past four months no license renewals have been taking place, and the committee engaged the municipal council and it attributed this to funding challenges.

"Everyone is now selling beer. Police cannot make arrests because the council itself is to blame," he said.

Speaking to Zodiak Online yesterday, the council's mayor Syze Simeji disputed the assertions, saying it is only a few liquor sellers that are yet to get the licenses.

"Many liquor shops in Luchenza have licenses and if there are some without licenses they are doing this against the law. We have delayed issuing the licences because of some logistical issues," Simeji said.

According to the liquor act, annually, the district and city or municipal councils in the country are required to assess and approve liquor shops and bottle stores before issuing new licenses.