The Curse Of Shebeens

THANKS for having given me this opportunity to air my views and opinion on shebeens.I am no longer going to be a silent victim.

We talk about freedom in Namibia, and I don’t really know what this means any more. Freedom of what or freedom from what? Ever since Independence, I have seen shebeens thriving on every corner in Katutura.Is this what you call self-employment or entrepreneurship? I don’t think so.Shebeen owners are selfish, insensitive and inconsiderate towards other residents in the area.There are old and sick people in these areas, who need their rest; there are school and university students who need to study for their exams; but no shebeen owner cares about that.All they ever care about is to make big, fat profits for themselves.They play hardcore loud music during the day and night.This noise is just unbearable, intolerable and agonising.People roam around drunk in every street in Katutura.I don’t really know how much effect this has on our economy, but surely these shebeens will have a negative effect in the long run.Many people in Katutura work just to get drunk at the end of every month or every weekend.This is not just a big economic problem but a social one too.Theft and rape cases are on the increase because of the uncontrollable and unruly consumption of alcohol.Then there is talk about Namibians being productive.How can we be if we do not sleep at night? If we cannot even open our books and study inside own homes? I have called on the Windhoek City Police too many times.But once the Police drive away, then it’s back to the loud music all day and all night long.I know that these people are trying to make ends meet, but at the expense of others.I don’t think that this is right or what freedom is about in Namibia.Some people being able to destroy other people’s futures? I am a proud Namibian with rights as well (or I though so) but these shebeen owners are busy violating my rights, or is it only the shebeen owners who have rights in this country? I seriously think that it is time that the Government intervene in this matter.Too much is at stake here.People lose their lives at shebeens and all sorts of crazy happenings occur at these places.I would like to invite the concerned Ministries to closely monitor or even put rules and regulations in place, because as far as I am concerned there are no rules governing these places whatsoever.They can operate whenever, even at 05h00 on a Sunday morning!Concerned Via e-mailFreedom of what or freedom from what? Ever since Independence, I have seen shebeens thriving on every corner in Katutura.Is this what you call self-employment or entrepreneurship? I don’t think so.Shebeen owners are selfish, insensitive and inconsiderate towards other residents in the area.There are old and sick people in these areas, who need their rest; there are school and university students who need to study for their exams; but no shebeen owner cares about that.All they ever care about is to make big, fat profits for themselves.They play hardcore loud music during the day and night.This noise is just unbearable, intolerable and agonising.People roam around drunk in every street in Katutura.I don’t really know how much effect this has on our economy, but surely these shebeens will have a negative effect in the long run.Many people in Katutura work just to get drunk at the end of every month or every weekend.This is not just a big economic problem but a social one too.Theft and rape cases are on the increase because of the uncontrollable and unruly consumption of alcohol.Then there is talk about Namibians being productive.How can we be if we do not sleep at night? If we cannot even open our books and study inside own homes? I have called on the Windhoek City Police too many times.But once the Police drive away, then it’s back to the loud music all day and all night long.I know that these people are trying to make ends meet, but at the expense of others.I don’t think that this is right or what freedom is about in Namibia.Some people being able to destroy other people’s futures? I am a proud Namibian with rights as well (or I though so) but these shebeen owners are busy violating my rights, or is it only the shebeen owners who have rights in this country? I seriously think that it is time that the Government intervene in this matter.Too much is at stake here.People lose their lives at shebeens and all sorts of crazy happenings occur at these places.I would like to invite the concerned Ministries to closely monitor or even put rules and regulations in place, because as far as I am concerned there are no rules governing these places whatsoever.They can operate whenever, even at 05h00 on a Sunday morning!Concerned Via e-mail