Shebeens ‘to miss licence deadline’

THE President of the Namibia Shebeen Association (Nasa), Veripi Kandenge, says it will be impossible for all Windhoek shebeen owners to gain licences by the end of this month.

Last year the Windhoek Municipality said any shebeener found not to have a registered establishment by the end of this month would face the wrath of the law. Kandenge said last week the deadline was impossible and unworkable, adding: “And 99 per cent of municipalities, including Windhoek, have not yet changed their by-laws”.Nasa told the Municipality last year that shebeen owners would be able to meet the deadline.Kandenge said Nasa, the Municipality and the Ministry of Trade and Industry were supposed to meet last year, to see what should be done.”But the meeting never took place,” he said.Last year the City’s Public Relations Officer, Ipupa Davids, said the deadline had been set at January 31 to ensure people were given enough time to apply, and that this was the second extension of the deadline.The 1998 Sale of Liquor Act requires shebeens in formal settlements to be built with bricks and have ablution facilities.The shebeen must be separated from the main house.Only in informal settlements are people allowed to have shebeens made with zinc-metal sheets.Kandenge said last week the deadline was impossible and unworkable, adding: “And 99 per cent of municipalities, including Windhoek, have not yet changed their by-laws”. Nasa told the Municipality last year that shebeen owners would be able to meet the deadline. Kandenge said Nasa, the Municipality and the Ministry of Trade and Industry were supposed to meet last year, to see what should be done. “But the meeting never took place,” he said. Last year the City’s Public Relations Officer, Ipupa Davids, said the deadline had been set at January 31 to ensure people were given enough time to apply, and that this was the second extension of the deadline. The 1998 Sale of Liquor Act requires shebeens in formal settlements to be built with bricks and have ablution facilities. The shebeen must be separated from the main house. Only in informal settlements are people allowed to have shebeens made with zinc-metal sheets.