Women And Shebeens

SOMEONE asked me what my opinion was on the closing of illegal shebeens.

Without thinking, I responded: Shebeens were born of taking away peoples’ freedom, for example Black people were not allowed to buy liquor, to move freely, to create a means to support themselves and provide for their children. The people demonstrating were mainly women.The men in high places today want to condemn the amount of shebeens all over the country and have the naive notion that people will drink less if they close down shebeens.They would like to forget how illegal shebeens all started.Namibians might be independent today but the majority are far from being economically independent.What must a mother do to feed, clothe and educate her children? Selling vetkoek won’t do it anymore with the cost of living rising the way it is and there is no such thing as free education! There is no free ride! Somehow money must be generated to ensure that a child is also given a fair chance to be healthy and educated because there is no livelihood without money.Don’t just take away peoples’ livelihoods – give them alternatives.Why not start with the youth? Where are the recreational facilities to occupy our youth who are too young to be legally employed? If they are there, they are not very visible.What is more visible is drunken young people.Unfortunately alcohol sells without any marketing and the demand only increases.That is the reality and it will take a dictator to stop that by force and where there are dictators is there any less substance abuse? No – there is only an increase in illegal activity or what is called “the black market”.I know that shebeens, whether legal or illegal, are not desirable in any neighbourhood.They disturb the peaceful environment with the noise and bad behaviour that alcohol creates, but until the Government can feed, clothe and educate our children, mothers will have to carry that responsibility.To read about our leaders condemning the survival techniques of some mothers is disturbing.We would like to think our country is being run by more enlightened people.Unhappy Mother Via e-mailThe people demonstrating were mainly women.The men in high places today want to condemn the amount of shebeens all over the country and have the naive notion that people will drink less if they close down shebeens.They would like to forget how illegal shebeens all started.Namibians might be independent today but the majority are far from being economically independent.What must a mother do to feed, clothe and educate her children? Selling vetkoek won’t do it anymore with the cost of living rising the way it is and there is no such thing as free education! There is no free ride! Somehow money must be generated to ensure that a child is also given a fair chance to be healthy and educated because there is no livelihood without money.Don’t just take away peoples’ livelihoods – give them alternatives.Why not start with the youth? Where are the recreational facilities to occupy our youth who are too young to be legally employed? If they are there, they are not very visible.What is more visible is drunken young people.Unfortunately alcohol sells without any marketing and the demand only increases.That is the reality and it will take a dictator to stop that by force and where there are dictators is there any less substance abuse? No – there is only an increase in illegal activity or what is called “the black market”.I know that shebeens, whether legal or illegal, are not desirable in any neighbourhood.They disturb the peaceful environment with the noise and bad behaviour that alcohol creates, but until the Government can feed, clothe and educate our children, mothers will have to carry that responsibility.To read about our leaders condemning the survival techniques of some mothers is disturbing.We would like to think our country is being run by more enlightened people.Unhappy Mother Via e-mail