Shebeen protest goes coastal

DEMONSTRATING shebeen operators are set to invade Swakopmund next week to protest against what they call the unequal implementation of the Liquor Act in different regions.

Namibia Shebeens Association (Nasa) president Veripi Kandenge said yesterday that an expected 5 000 people – mainly shebeen operators and sympathisers such as taxi drivers, street vendors and labour union representatives – will descend on the offices of the Erongo Governor and the Swakopmund municipality on Monday, and are prepared to remain there for the next seven days. “It’s already planned.We have organised approximately 300 buses to transport people there from across the country,” Kandenge told The Namibian.However, by yesterday afternoon his association was still awaiting permission from the Police, who would need to maintain law and order during the planned demonstration.Kandenge said that shebeen operators, especially from the Erongo and Karas regions, were fed up with the slow implementation of the Liquor Act due to different functions being shared by municipalities and regional liquor boards.In order to qualify for a shebeen liquor licence, prospective operators need to submit their applications more than a month ahead of a regional liquor licensing committee meeting.But while hundreds of hopefuls rush to get this done on time, Kandenge says their applications are simply thrown out at these meetings because they lack a fitness certificate issued by a municipal inspector.”In Windhoek, for example, there’s only one person responsible for granting fitness certificates,” Kandenge said.He added that Police and the Windhoek municipality in the Khomas Region have been fairly supportive of shebeen operators’ plight, something which is not the case in regions such as Erongo, Karas and Hardap.”Even the law (pre-amended Liquor Act of 1998) was not that bad.It’s just that it wasn’t properly implemented.What we’re trying to do now is call for proper implementation throughout, for Government to monitor the different regions,” he said.Kandenge, like he did earlier this year, called for a three-year moratorium on the Liquor Act while the backlog in licence applications is being addressed.In June, hundreds of shebeen operators and their supporters marched to the Parliament building in Windhoek in protest against the Liquor Act, which they said made it impossible for the ordinary man to make a living.At the time, Police had begun a crackdown on illegal shebeen operators, shutting down unlicensed shebeens across the country.After two weeks of picketing in front of the Parliament building, Government revised the Liquor Act to make it easier for prospective shebeen owners to obtain licences.Amendments included the abolition of the requirements that a shebeen must have two toilets and a floor with a smooth finish.”It’s already planned.We have organised approximately 300 buses to transport people there from across the country,” Kandenge told The Namibian.However, by yesterday afternoon his association was still awaiting permission from the Police, who would need to maintain law and order during the planned demonstration.Kandenge said that shebeen operators, especially from the Erongo and Karas regions, were fed up with the slow implementation of the Liquor Act due to different functions being shared by municipalities and regional liquor boards.In order to qualify for a shebeen liquor licence, prospective operators need to submit their applications more than a month ahead of a regional liquor licensing committee meeting.But while hundreds of hopefuls rush to get this done on time, Kandenge says their applications are simply thrown out at these meetings because they lack a fitness certificate issued by a municipal inspector.”In Windhoek, for example, there’s only one person responsible for granting fitness certificates,” Kandenge said.He added that Police and the Windhoek municipality in the Khomas Region have been fairly supportive of shebeen operators’ plight, something which is not the case in regions such as Erongo, Karas and Hardap.”Even the law (pre-amended Liquor Act of 1998) was not that bad.It’s just that it wasn’t properly implemented.What we’re trying to do now is call for proper implementation throughout, for Government to monitor the different regions,” he said.Kandenge, like he did earlier this year, called for a three-year moratorium on the Liquor Act while the backlog in licence applications is being addressed.In June, hundreds of shebeen operators and their supporters marched to the Parliament building in Windhoek in protest against the Liquor Act, which they said made it impossible for the ordinary man to make a living.At the time, Police had begun a crackdown on illegal shebeen operators, shutting down unlicensed shebeens across the country.After two weeks of picketing in front of the Parliament building, Government revised the Liquor Act to make it easier for prospective shebeen owners to obtain licences.Amendments included the abolition of the requirements that a shebeen must have two toilets and a floor with a smooth finish.