We’re not home and dry yet, say shebeen demonstrators

SHEBEEN operators today mark a week of demonstrating outside Parliament, despite requests from both the President and the Prime Minister that they return home while MPs get to grips with the problem.

Yesterday a group of about 60 protesters remained on the parliamentary premises, promising that more people were on the way to swell their ranks. “Many will arrive today from the Kavango, some from Rundu and even here in Windhoek,” demonstrator Ben Petrus from the Erongo Region, told The Namibian.”There’s nothing for us to go home to.There’s no business,” he said.Cabinet issued a statement following its 12th meeting on Tuesday, reaffirming its position that “the trading of liquor must be controlled”.”Government is hard at work to find the most appropriate ways to enable the smooth implementation of the Liquor Act.Shebeen owners will be informed through their leaders and public announcements will be made once all modalities are worked out,” reads the statement, signed by Information Minister Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah.The Council of Churches in Namibia (CCN) agrees with Cabinet in “encouraging informal traders to diversify their activities (beyond concentrating) only on liquor”.The organisation notes that “since the clampdown on shebeens in Walvis Bay for example, the crime rate (at the town) dropped significantly, the children are performing better at school and the community is experiencing relative peace.”In a statement, spokesperson for the CCN Reverend Phillip Strydom called on all local communities to stand together against the mushrooming of shebeens, urging those involved in the trade to explore “how to enter the informal and formal economy through self-employment.””We have taken note of the argument by shebeen owners that this is their only means of income to support themselves and their families.This becomes a challenge for the Government, businesses and the church to come up with alternative solutions to the problem of unemployment.”On Tuesday, Parliament started to discuss a motion by DTA MP Phillemon Moongo, who proposed that the 1998 Liquor Act be amended to make it more accessible to small traders.Prime Minister Nahas Angula then asked shebeen owners to allow Parliamentarians time to ensure that proposals made in the next few weeks are well thought out and implementable.”Many will arrive today from the Kavango, some from Rundu and even here in Windhoek,” demonstrator Ben Petrus from the Erongo Region, told The Namibian.”There’s nothing for us to go home to.There’s no business,” he said.Cabinet issued a statement following its 12th meeting on Tuesday, reaffirming its position that “the trading of liquor must be controlled”.”Government is hard at work to find the most appropriate ways to enable the smooth implementation of the Liquor Act.Shebeen owners will be informed through their leaders and public announcements will be made once all modalities are worked out,” reads the statement, signed by Information Minister Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah. The Council of Churches in Namibia (CCN) agrees with Cabinet in “encouraging informal traders to diversify their activities (beyond concentrating) only on liquor”.The organisation notes that “since the clampdown on shebeens in Walvis Bay for example, the crime rate (at the town) dropped significantly, the children are performing better at school and the community is experiencing relative peace.”In a statement, spokesperson for the CCN Reverend Phillip Strydom called on all local communities to stand together against the mushrooming of shebeens, urging those involved in the trade to explore “how to enter the informal and formal economy through self-employment.””We have taken note of the argument by shebeen owners that this is their only means of income to support themselves and their families.This becomes a challenge for the Government, businesses and the church to come up with alternative solutions to the problem of unemployment.”On Tuesday, Parliament started to discuss a motion by DTA MP Phillemon Moongo, who proposed that the 1998 Liquor Act be amended to make it more accessible to small traders.Prime Minister Nahas Angula then asked shebeen owners to allow Parliamentarians time to ensure that proposals made in the next few weeks are well thought out and implementable.