Encouraging Alcoholism In Katutura

AS a Windhoek citizen it is with dismay that I noticed the number of individuals applying for liquor activities in Katutura.

This is with reference to the Rezoning of Erven: Goreangab Dam; Okuryangava; Wanaheda in The Namibian of 13 September. It is sad, we are already being destroyed by AIDS, and we have a history of alcoholism in Katutura.Nationally each and every one of us does not need to look far away, but see how around our corners, our young men have been and continue to be destroyed by alcohol, families destroyed by alcohol, young woman losing their jobs because of alcoholism.We also need to go back and see how alcohol was used during the colonial period to destroy us in Katutura, and as a reminder Bonarora at Grootwinkels was shortened for Bo-Wambo; Na – Nama; re – Herero; Ra- Damara, the motto was unite them in a destructive way and that is exactly what happened.Why should the poor continue to destroy themselves through alcohol? Look at other suburbs in Windhoek: Pionierspark, Ludwigsdorf, Academia just to mention a few – how many bottle stores are there? How many in those areas will allow so many liquor activities in their area? In one street in Goreangab Dam (Eveline Street) there are 26 liquor businesses.The whole Goreangab Dam area seems to becoming an alcohol mall.We are also dealing with a community that does not understand the impact of alcoholism, our people drink until they finish the entire crate! It is not about socialising; it is more about getting drunk and forgetting how this destroys us in the long run.This is also the culture we pass on to our youngsters, growing up and being exposed to alcoholism.I also suggest that municipality not only place this advert in newspapers (but organise meetings with the affected groups) to find out exactly how the community feels, let them debate and not wait for people to respond in an advert in a newspapers (how many of the people in the affected group read English?)Why should the entire Katutura have bottlestores? It is high time as a society that we come together and look at ways of (1) how to better our communities, especially for our young people who do not have activities to socialise over the weekend (there is no movie theatre), as a result they turn to a culture of alcohol as it is passed on from the adults (2) look at alternative ways to get an income besides through liquor stores.Why should we destroy ourselves? It is high time we place ourselves in other people’s shoes.Those who are giving these licences should for once imagine they were living on Eveline Street in Goreangab Dam How will they feel if their kids are surrounded by bottlestores?Worried Resident KatuturaNote: Real name and address provided – EdIt is sad, we are already being destroyed by AIDS, and we have a history of alcoholism in Katutura.Nationally each and every one of us does not need to look far away, but see how around our corners, our young men have been and continue to be destroyed by alcohol, families destroyed by alcohol, young woman losing their jobs because of alcoholism.We also need to go back and see how alcohol was used during the colonial period to destroy us in Katutura, and as a reminder Bonarora at Grootwinkels was shortened for Bo-Wambo; Na – Nama; re – Herero; Ra- Damara, the motto was unite them in a destructive way and that is exactly what happened.Why should the poor continue to destroy themselves through alcohol? Look at other suburbs in Windhoek: Pionierspark, Ludwigsdorf, Academia just to mention a few – how many bottle stores are there? How many in those areas will allow so many liquor activities in their area? In one street in Goreangab Dam (Eveline Street) there are 26 liquor businesses.The whole Goreangab Dam area seems to becoming an alcohol mall.We are also dealing with a community that does not understand the impact of alcoholism, our people drink until they finish the entire crate! It is not about socialising; it is more about getting drunk and forgetting how this destroys us in the long run.This is also the culture we pass on to our youngsters, growing up and being exposed to alcoholism.I also suggest that municipality not only place this advert in newspapers (but organise meetings with the affected groups) to find out exactly how the community feels, let them debate and not wait for people to respond in an advert in a newspapers (how many of the people in the affected group read English?)Why should the entire Katutura have bottlestores? It is high time as a society that we come together and look at ways of (1) how to better our communities, especially for our young people who do not have activities to socialise over the weekend (there is no movie theatre), as a result they turn to a culture of alcohol as it is passed on from the adults (2) look at alternative ways to get an income besides through liquor stores.Why should we destroy ourselves? It is high time we place ourselves in other people’s shoes.Those who are giving these licences should for once imagine they were living on Eveline Street in Goreangab Dam How will they feel if their kids are surrounded by bottlestores?Worried Resident KatuturaNote: Real name and address provided – Ed