Windhoek relaxes rules for shebeeners

THE City of Windhoek says it fears becoming the scapegoat in the recent clash between Government and the Namibian Shebeen Association (Nasa).

Following pressure from central Government, the City Council on Wednesday agreed to relax the rules for shebeens operating in residential areas for one year only. Addressing the Council’s monthly meeting, Windhoek Mayor Matheus Shikongo said he hoped the media was taking notice of the agenda item which allowed for fitness certificates to be issued to shebeen owners while rezoning of their premises from ‘residential’ to ‘business’ was still pending.This, council noted, was being agreed to at the request of Permanent Secretary of Trade and Industry Andrew Ndishishi.Council said it had approved 350 applications for rezoning to acquire business rights.Of these, 157 applications had been passed on to the Ministry of Local Government three months ago to gain approval for the amendment scheme.The council said those who failed to respond to the City’s letter announcing its decision and acceptance of the City’s conditions could still do so for forwarding to the Ministry of Local Government.The council noted that as a local authority it had to abide by the law and follow good practices before issuing fitness certificates to applicants for liquor licences.This week, after Government finally managed to convince shebeeners who had been camping outside Parliament buildings for 10 days to return home, Minister of Trade and Industry Immanuel Ngatjizeko said it was Government’s view that their complaints had more to do with the Town Planning Ordinance of 1954 than the Liquor Act of 1998.Shebeeners arrived in Windhoek to protest the closure of their illegal operations, calling for the Liquor Act to be amended so as to relax the rules for obtaining the necessary licences and certificates to allow them to operate legally.The Windhoek City Council noted that while the circumstances of each local authority differed, Windhoek was the most prominent council.Ndishishi is said to have impressed on the Windhoek City Council the need to lead by example to “show that progress has been made”.Ndishishi requested that the City grant its approvals for a year while waiting for the formal promulgation of the change in zoning.Council agreed that approval be given for qualified consent for ‘resident occupations’ to be issued to successful applicants for rezoning from ‘residential’ to ‘business’, pending the finalisation of the rezoning by Government.Those obtaining ‘resident occupation’ consent are to be advised to conform to City policies and requirements for small home-based businesses and will only be allowed to apply for shebeen liquor licences or grocery liquor licences for one year only.Addressing the Council’s monthly meeting, Windhoek Mayor Matheus Shikongo said he hoped the media was taking notice of the agenda item which allowed for fitness certificates to be issued to shebeen owners while rezoning of their premises from ‘residential’ to ‘business’ was still pending.This, council noted, was being agreed to at the request of Permanent Secretary of Trade and Industry Andrew Ndishishi.Council said it had approved 350 applications for rezoning to acquire business rights.Of these, 157 applications had been passed on to the Ministry of Local Government three months ago to gain approval for the amendment scheme.The council said those who failed to respond to the City’s letter announcing its decision and acceptance of the City’s conditions could still do so for forwarding to the Ministry of Local Government.The council noted that as a local authority it had to abide by the law and follow good practices before issuing fitness certificates to applicants for liquor licences.This week, after Government finally managed to convince shebeeners who had been camping outside Parliament buildings for 10 days to return home, Minister of Trade and Industry Immanuel Ngatjizeko said it was Government’s view that their complaints had more to do with the Town Planning Ordinance of 1954 than the Liquor Act of 1998.Shebeeners arrived in Windhoek to protest the closure of their illegal operations, calling for the Liquor Act to be amended so as to relax the rules for obtaining the necessary licences and certificates to allow them to operate legally.The Windhoek City Council noted that while the circumstances of each local authority differed, Windhoek was the most prominent council.Ndishishi is said to have impressed on the Windhoek City Council the need to lead by example to “show that progress has been made”.Ndishishi requested that the City grant its approvals for a year while waiting for the formal promulgation of the change in zoning.Council agreed that approval be given for qualified consent for ‘resident occupations’ to be issued to successful applicants for rezoning from ‘residential’ to ‘business’, pending the finalisation of the rezoning by Government.Those obtaining ‘resident occupation’ consent are to be advised to conform to City policies and requirements for small home-based businesses and will only be allowed to apply for shebeen liquor licences or grocery liquor licences for one year only.