One person attends liquor bill session

Only one Keetmanshoop resident attended a public hearing of the much-talked-about Liquor Amendment Bill in the town’s Tseiblaagte residential area on Monday.
That person was local Lutheran Church Reverend Simon Tiboth, who told Nampa he was disturbed by the proliferation of shebeens in residential areas.
“Shebeens are among schools, churches and homes. Violence prevails, children are run over by drunk drivers and broken glass bottles litter the streets,” he said.
Tiboth supported motions by Keetmanshoop Divisional Magistrate Philanda Christiaan, Keetmanshoop municipality local economic development manager Jegg Christiaan and town councillor Johannes Esterhuizen for the relocation of shebeens to rezoned business areas.
Esterhuizen told the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Accounts and Economy that shebeens would be best regulated and controlled in designated business zones.
“Shebeens will then comply with operating times and business practices and we will succeed by removing unbecoming social behaviour from the midst of law-abiding communities and their children,” he said.
He added that the relocation would allow the government to put measures in place, compelling shebeen owners to pay taxes which would contribute to the advancement of the country.
“Right now, shebeens are a main cause of poverty in Namibia. Operators say they feed their families with that income, but the bigger problem is the families who lose hard-earned money to alcohol that could be spent on food,” said Esterhuizen.
Magistrate Christiaan proposed a grace period for shebeens’ relocation and the demarcation of operating zones.
The municipality’s economic development manager said it was possible to demarcate zones for shebeens, but he expressed doubt about the implementation process.
“There could be opposition in execution from both shebeen operators and drinkers. People want to drink where they are, but the best option would be to remove shebeens from residential areas,” said Jegg Christiaan.
He said the municipality struggled with problems of littering, noise pollution, illegal dumping, traffic and safety around shebeens.
On 1 August, the National Council referred the Liquor Amendment Bill to the standing committee to consult with stakeholders in the regions. Parliamentarians Joseph Mupetami, Peter Kazongominja and Gerhard Shiimi facilitated the session in the //Karas Region.
The findings and recommendations are expected to be presented to the NC on 20 October.