Shebeeners ‘moved by the spirit’

DESPITE sober assurances by Government that it is hard at work to ensure the smooth implementation of the Liquor Act, a core group of shebeen protesters yesterday remained camped outside Parliament in Windhoek.

Their protest follows the closure of illegal shebeens in many parts of the country after the Police were ordered to enforce the Act, which was passed in 1998. Regulations that shebeen owners need to comply with include applying for licences and a number of health regulations, including adequate toilet facilities.Many shebeen owners believe they should be given carte blanche to operate “freely”; others maintain they are poor and cannot afford the costs involved in complying with the Act; and yet others say the regulations were never explained to them, and are not workable in rural areas.On the opposite side, many residents feel shebeens need to be curbed; that they can pose a health risk; that they are breeding grounds for crime; that shebeen owners have had adequate time – since 1998 – to get their houses in order; and that their leaders should have made sure that they knew about the regulations.On Wednesday, The Namibian spoke to some of the 60 or so protesters outside Parliament.”My electricity is off,” says Chico Kamhululu.He says despite Government’s request [that they return home], he will remain outside Parliament until he receives a favourable answer.Kamhululu owns a shebeen in Walvis Bay, and says that he applied for a shebeen licence last year.He said the municipality rejected his application “maybe because it’s not made of brick.It’s zinc (corrugated iron)”.Another demonstrator, Mweliya Petrus from Windhoek, doesn’t own a shebeen, but claims he is suffering because his parents’ business at Walvis Bay was forced to close because of Police action.”I depend on money sent from Walvis Bay,” he said, adding that he was enrolled at Eldorado Secondary School, but had been absent this whole week.”I’m absent because I want to take a stand.And imagine where I come from there’s no bread.At least here there’s bread.Its even better now,” he said.Demonstrators have received bread, tea and other food from relatives and sympathisers since they started sleeping in front of Parliament on Thursday last week.Regulations that shebeen owners need to comply with include applying for licences and a number of health regulations, including adequate toilet facilities.Many shebeen owners believe they should be given carte blanche to operate “freely”; others maintain they are poor and cannot afford the costs involved in complying with the Act; and yet others say the regulations were never explained to them, and are not workable in rural areas.On the opposite side, many residents feel shebeens need to be curbed; that they can pose a health risk; that they are breeding grounds for crime; that shebeen owners have had adequate time – since 1998 – to get their houses in order; and that their leaders should have made sure that they knew about the regulations.On Wednesday, The Namibian spoke to some of the 60 or so protesters outside Parliament.”My electricity is off,” says Chico Kamhululu.He says despite Government’s request [that they return home], he will remain outside Parliament until he receives a favourable answer.Kamhululu owns a shebeen in Walvis Bay, and says that he applied for a shebeen licence last year.He said the municipality rejected his application “maybe because it’s not made of brick.It’s zinc (corrugated iron)”.Another demonstrator, Mweliya Petrus from Windhoek, doesn’t own a shebeen, but claims he is suffering because his parents’ business at Walvis Bay was forced to close because of Police action.”I depend on money sent from Walvis Bay,” he said, adding that he was enrolled at Eldorado Secondary School, but had been absent this whole week.”I’m absent because I want to take a stand.And imagine where I come from there’s no bread.At least here there’s bread.Its even better now,” he said.Demonstrators have received bread, tea and other food from relatives and sympathisers since they started sleeping in front of Parliament on Thursday last week.