Authorities have double standards on shebeens

A second revolution of the middle class structures versus the majority poor improvished masses brewing and it is on its way. Simply put, enough is enough that is our clarion statement from the Peoples Democratic Movement (PDM).

We haven't seen a Government that is Busy Legislating its own people into poverty at a speed at which the Swapo party Government and its organs are doing currently.

Recently it was the demolition of shacks in Okahandja Park, Gorengab. The other day it was Rehoboth water having been cut; now it is the shebeen closure.

It is disgusting that the Swapo party and its Government often time and time again speaks of the values and cultures of the struggle, yet both are not living under that struggle but in an advanced capitalist society with a small open economy under conditions of globalisation, were they have become instant millionaires.

Hands of we should clearly state the newest attempts by the City of Windhoek with its Swapo dominated council to close down illegal shebeens via proxy vote given to the City Police. We are the first in PDM to register our support to any attempt to decrease alcohol consumption amongst our own people.

However, it is the failure of the state that does not provide any other proper means or avenues for Namibians to survive, instead driving people to fend for themselves to the extent of opening shebeens to feed their families. And who are the patrons of these shebeens at night? Is it not the very same police officers and Councilors who drinks at night like endangered species with their Kamborotos (Hidden Girlfriends)?What double standards really.

We are totally fed up with the way and manner in which the City of Windhoek and the City Police continues to treat people as if we are in a Police state where every last detail should be regulated. Hell No. Over regulations is a recipe for disaster Mr. Abraham Kanime.

Moreover, it is morally wrong that a small middle class people, whose position is tenuous, insecure and only survival, should treat their own people with such contempt and throw them to the wolves only in the name of so-called Law and order.

There must be a balance struck to maintain law and order and the need for those who depends on the shebeens to continue doing so. Let us forego the argument of noise pollution and the fact that crimes emanate from shebeens for a second and ask? How many people are employed by this shebeens and how many families depend on this money to survive? And if it closed how many will have nothing to eat?

It is also true that while many law makers in parliament are crying out that alcohol consumption is out of hand, they are also not leading by example at all as many of them also drinks them on ice on many occasions, while many of them are the owners of those shebeens that are apparently legal. Strange therefore that they want to get poor Namibians out of business while they continue to get their bread buttered on both sides. How selfish!

In a country that fails to provide employment for its citizens were money that should be sued to create job opportunities are stolen on a daily basis, how should the people survive?

We call upon the City of Windhoek and its notorious City Police whose fingers are always itching to destroy and enforce draconian laws to revisit their latest field trip of closing illegal shebeens, as they are heading towards a head on collision with the impoverished and marginalised masses of this City.