Govt says acting on shebeens

WITH shebeen owners threatening to return to the Parliament buildings, the Ministry of Trade and Industry has issued a statement assuring them that it is doing everything in its power to address their concerns.

Members of the Namibia Shebeens Association met in Windhoek over the weekend, where they sharply criticised Government’s failure to respond, three weeks after their demonstrations ended in front of Parliament. “People are disappointed.They see the people who sit with their problems with their stomachs full.And from our side we don’t have an answer for them,” Namibia Shebeens Association president Veripi Kandenge said yesterday about the prevailing mood of his union’s members.”We want them to tell us what’s happening, and have that in writing,” Kandenge said.On Monday, a statement signed by Trade Minister Immanuel Ngatjizeko stated that progress was in fact being made with regard to the drafting of new regulations in the Liquor Act.”However, due to the complexity of the matter, and need for compliance of various role players with statutory requirements, a delay has been experienced in gazetting the new measures,” the Ministry stated.The Ministry met with the various Regional Liquor Licensing Committees two weeks ago, where the way forward was planned and the committees were informed how to go about implementing these new measures when they become operational.Although Kandenge had not been aware of the contents of the Ministry statement, he added that the Association would only be content with a detailed statement by the Ministry, addressed to the union specifically.”That (a media statement) we can have, but what we want is for them to tell us in black and white, and in detail, what’s happening,” he said.The union was waiting for Government to give shebeen operators the right to reopen their unlicensed shebeens, Kandenge said.”People are disappointed.They see the people who sit with their problems with their stomachs full.And from our side we don’t have an answer for them,” Namibia Shebeens Association president Veripi Kandenge said yesterday about the prevailing mood of his union’s members.”We want them to tell us what’s happening, and have that in writing,” Kandenge said.On Monday, a statement signed by Trade Minister Immanuel Ngatjizeko stated that progress was in fact being made with regard to the drafting of new regulations in the Liquor Act.”However, due to the complexity of the matter, and need for compliance of various role players with statutory requirements, a delay has been experienced in gazetting the new measures,” the Ministry stated.The Ministry met with the various Regional Liquor Licensing Committees two weeks ago, where the way forward was planned and the committees were informed how to go about implementing these new measures when they become operational.Although Kandenge had not been aware of the contents of the Ministry statement, he added that the Association would only be content with a detailed statement by the Ministry, addressed to the union specifically.”That (a media statement) we can have, but what we want is for them to tell us in black and white, and in detail, what’s happening,” he said.The union was waiting for Government to give shebeen operators the right to reopen their unlicensed shebeens, Kandenge said.