Parliament gets a roasting

SHEBEENERS yesterday skinned and braaied a cow outside Parliament, sparking public questions about whether the authorities are giving the protesters too much leeway to do what they want.

The protesters have already defied requests by President Hifikepunye Pohamba and Prime Minister Nahas Angula that they return home while the controversial issue of illegal shebeens is sorted out. Government has set up a special committee and is fast-tracking the matter in a bid to find an appropriate and practical solution.A number of shebeen owners countrywide are up in arms over a Police crackdown on illegal liquor outlets.Nearly eight years after the Liquor Act (1998) was passed, shebeeners are now saying that they did not understand the legislation and that some of the conditions are too harsh.Between 60 to 70 demonstrators have been camped outside Parliament since Thursday last week.They are refusing to budge until Government “reacts favourably” to their demands.Members of the public have generally cast a benign eye on the protesters and their actions, even while clothing was being hung out to dry on tree branches and demonstrators washed themselves in the parliamentary parking area.However, the skinning and roasting of the cow literally on the doorstep of one of the main symbols of Namibian democracy has provoked a torrent of protest.Phone calls and e-mails streamed in to the media yesterday as people took exception to the action, and said the shebeeners had gone too far.For their part, the group argues that they’re “perfectly within their rights”.”Its not an oryx, its not wild game.There’s nothing wrong with it,” group spokesperson Moses Amoto told The Namibian yesterday.”We came here legally, and we aren’t involved in any illegal activities.Our petition was peaceful and even now we’re peaceful,” he said.Asked for comment yesterday, Parliament’s Director for General Services Jakes Jacobs said he was unaware of the incident, but added that the sensitivity of the issue required careful handling.”From our side, I think we’ve decided to give them some leeway.We have some security keeping an eye on the situation, but very low key,” he said.Jacobs added that they had opened ablution blocks at Parliament to preserve a level of sanitation.He said the crowd was adamant it would only leave when given permission to reopen their illegal shebeens.Jacobs said the demonstrators were becoming increasingly frustrated and that Parliamentary staff were trying not to inflame the situation.Namibian Police spokesperson James Matengu yesterday referred The Namibian to Parliament and the Windhoek Municipality for comment on whether the demonstrators were within their rights.He said they were the authorities responsible for activities that took place at Parliament.City of Windhoek Corporate Communications Manager Ndangi Katoma said last night that while the Municipality was aware of demonstrators’ activities, the parliamentary premises was private property owned by Government.As such Government would be expected to address the matter.”Parliament is the highest authority of our country and as such should be in a position to address the matter accordingly,” he said.The Namibian established that an emergency City Council meeting was held last night to discuss the shebeen situation.Council, it has been reliably established, came to an agreement that they would have to wait for whatever changes Parliament decides to make to the 1998 Liquor Act before they would be able to do anything to solve the problem.”We can’t get our by-laws in accordance with an Act that they’re still busy amending,” a Council source said after the meeting.The group of around 60 demonstrators swelled slightly during yesterday afternoon’s parliamentary session.Government has set up a special committee and is fast-tracking the matter in a bid to find an appropriate and practical solution.A number of shebeen owners countrywide are up in arms over a Police crackdown on illegal liquor outlets.Nearly eight years after the Liquor Act (1998) was passed, shebeeners are now saying that they did not understand the legislation and that some of the conditions are too harsh.Between 60 to 70 demonstrators have been camped outside Parliament since Thursday last week.They are refusing to budge until Government “reacts favourably” to their demands. Members of the public have generally cast a benign eye on the protesters and their actions, even while clothing was being hung out to dry on tree branches and demonstrators washed themselves in the parliamentary parking area.However, the skinning and roasting of the cow literally on the doorstep of one of the main symbols of Namibian democracy has provoked a torrent of protest.Phone calls and e-mails streamed in to the media yesterday as people took exception to the action, and said the shebeeners had gone too far.For their part, the group argues that they’re “perfectly within their rights”.”Its not an oryx, its not wild game.There’s nothing wrong with it,” group spokesperson Moses Amoto told The Namibian yesterday.”We came here legally, and we aren’t involved in any illegal activities.Our petition was peaceful and even now we’re peaceful,” he said.Asked for comment yesterday, Parliament’s Director for General Services Jakes Jacobs said he was unaware of the incident, but added that the sensitivity of the issue required careful handling.”From our side, I think we’ve decided to give them some leeway.We have some security keeping an eye on the situation, but very low key,” he said.Jacobs added that they had opened ablution blocks at Parliament to preserve a level of sanitation.He said the crowd was adamant it would only leave when given permission to reopen their illegal shebeens.Jacobs said the demonstrators were becoming increasingly frustrated and that Parliamentary staff were trying not to inflame the situation.Namibian Police spokesperson James Matengu yesterday referred The Namibian to Parliament and the Windhoek Municipality for comment on whether the demonstrators were within their rights.He said they were the authorities responsible for activities that took place at Parliament.City of Windhoek Corporate Communications Manager Ndangi Katoma said last night that while the Municipality was aware of demonstrators’ activities, the parliamentary premises was private property owned by Government.As such Government would be expected to address the matter.”Parliament is the highest authority of our country and as such should be in a position to address the matter accordingly,” he said.The Namibian established that an emergency City Council meeting was held last night to discuss the shebeen situation.Council, it has been reliably established, came to an agreement that they would have to wait for whatever changes Parliament decides to make to the 1998 Liquor Act before they would be able to do anything to solve the problem.”We can’t get our by-laws in accordance with an Act that they’re still busy amending,” a Council source said after the meeting.The group of around 60 demonstrators swelled slightly during yesterday afternoon’s parliamentary session.