Eveline Street: Where the party never stops

It’s Saturday morning in Eveline Street, Greenwell Matongo, and people are walking around with bottles of alcohol, laughing and joking as they step across the potholed street. There is water everywhere. The shebeens and other drinking holes are already pumping and braaivleis fires swirl into the air, causing smokiness to assault your senses. Vehicles park indiscriminately on the pavement and passengers pour out and enter their favourite spot. Taxis unloading patrons cause chaos and those who are driving up what must be Windhoek’s busiest street, hoot and gesture angrily when they are forced to avoid a possible crash. It is easy to see who Eveline Street is famous and even has a few videos posted on YouTube. It got even more famous last month when American preacher Joyce Meyer singled out Eveline Street for a special mention during her sermons about Namibia, when she visited the Land of the Brave. Speaking at the Independence Stadium Meyer singled out Eveline Street told thousands of Namibians who came to the Festival of Life event that young people in the country have to find other creative ways to pass their time and should be drinking in Eveline Street. She told them she had visited the street and that she was shocked and disappointment to see the number of shebeens. “Everywhere there is a barbershop, a car wash and a shebeen, so especially young people go there and have a drink... Namibia needs to find other ways to be creative and have fun. It is not right,” she said. During Namibian Sun’s visit this past weekend, no one seemed to care that it was early in the morning and the alcohol was already flowing freely. Residents and patrons who spoke to the newspaper admitted that Eveline Street has a bit of a reputation, but drinkers brave the hustle and bustle anyway. They know about the tsotsis and other elements who target those who have had too much to drink, but they just shrug their shoulders and say that it is part of life. It is where the ‘in-crowd’ of every persuasion comes to hang out. To be seen in Eveline Street liberally spending your money seems to be worth the risk to them. You will find business people, politicians and ordinary folk opening their wallets and trying to attract the prettiest young ladies. The longest Brazilian hair and the shortest dresses are seen here. But the street is also known for violence. The sound of gunfire is heard frequently and those who stay in the vicinity complain about robberies. Drunken patrons make easy pickings for thieves. The noise pollution is intoxicating, as the sounds of Tate Buti and other famous Namibian musicians are mixed with House music. People tell Namibian Sun that maybe the street should be renamed, to shake off the memories of some of the distasteful things that have happened in it. However, it is also a place where people make a living, raking in vast amount of money from the bars, car washes and other businesses that flourish in the area. Luxury cars, including SUVs and sports cars, can be seen being wiped down at car washes, while their owners entertain their friends and side-chicks. Namibia Sun finds Khomasdal resident Tommy Green walking along the street and he begins to chat about its reputation. “I have heard a lot about this place. This is not a good place to walk around during the night, because you can easily lose your life. People are attacked by people who commit crime,” Green said. “The bars are causing a lot of violence, because you find that people are drinking excessively alcohol. It is mostly young people who are the ones committing violence at the bars. They are trying to fight each other every time.” According to Absalom Ngwenya from Wanaheda, violence is often committed by people from outside the location. “Noise pollution is also bad. The music is played at all hours, mostly from jukeboxes. Students and school pupils don’t even get time to study because of the noise.” Ngwenya added that there is no way to avoid the noise pollution, because the owners are trying to attract customers and earn money. “We have to just accept it.” Lukas Alex, who lives in the area, said violence linked to alcohol abuse can happen anytime of the night or day. He said new faces in the location are often targeted. “People will watch you and follow where you are going and try to catch you out once you are drunk. No one will help you,” Alex said. WINDHOEK LUKAS NAMBALA