Disappointment for shebeen owners

MORE than 100 unlicensed and prospective shebeen operators left the Katutura Magistrate’s Court disappointed yesterday, after the Khomas regional liquor licensing board postponed the consideration of their licence applications to next month.

Regional liquor licensing boards across the country sat in their respective regions for their third quarterly meetings yesterday to consider licence applications by bottle stores, nightclubs and shebeens. Shebeen operators across the country had been looking forward to the day since February 2004, according to Namibia Shebeens Association (Nasa) president Veripi Kandenge.This, he claims, was the last time any licence for a shebeen was granted.However, those in the Khomas and Karas regions were urged to be patient a while longer, because of recently amended regulations regarding shebeen licensing.Last month, Minister of Trade and Industry Immanuel Ngatjizeko announced a number of changes in the Liquor Act to make it easier for people to obtain a liquor licence.However, because most of the prospective shebeen licensees had applied before the said changes were implemented, the chairperson of the Khomas licensing board, Magistrate Johanna Salionga, said a separate date had been set to deal with shebeen licences.”The Khomas regional liquor licensing committee had a meeting yesterday (Tuesday).We decided, since it’s not the fault of the applicants nor that of the committee, applications for liquor licences will be postponed to a special date,” Salionga told an overcrowded courtroom.This date was set for September 27, she said.Although applications generally expire within 60 days of a committee meeting, Salionga assured concerned applicants that this rule would be overlooked in this instance.While there is no need to re-advertise in newspapers, applicants were told to fill in the new simplified “Form 1A”, which was introduced last month.”As usual, no success” were the first words spoken by Nasa’s Kandenge as he left the Magistrate’s Court.”It’s the usual thing.They postponed licensing in 2004, and now again.Wholesalers, bottle stores, they’re all there getting licensed.But the system has to be complicated for the small person.”More than 2 000 applications had been received from the municipal area of Windhoek alone, according to Salionga.A few applicants spoken to raised concern about the fact that they would not be able to send anyone besides a legal representative to the September meeting.This issue was also raised with the committee earlier.”All I’m saying is that at the next meeting we expect progress to be made,” one woman fumed.The Namibia Shebeen Association meets with shebeen operators in Windhoek this afternoon to discuss issues surrounding their licence applications.Among the changes brought about last month is the abolition of the requirement for a separate toilet for each gender, and for the floors to be covered with a smooth finish.From now on, shebeens will not have to adhere to a given area’s applicable planning regulations, and their will no longer need to seek the approval of a health officer before setting up his business.The sittings of the regional liquor licensing boards have also been increased from four to 12 a year.As far as could be established from independent sources, all other regions except Karas included the licensing of shebeens at their meetings.The return date for applicants in the Karas Region, as indicated by a court source as well as by Kandenge, is apparently the end of this month.Shebeen operators across the country had been looking forward to the day since February 2004, according to Namibia Shebeens Association (Nasa) president Veripi Kandenge.This, he claims, was the last time any licence for a shebeen was granted.However, those in the Khomas and Karas regions were urged to be patient a while longer, because of recently amended regulations regarding shebeen licensing.Last month, Minister of Trade and Industry Immanuel Ngatjizeko announced a number of changes in the Liquor Act to make it easier for people to obtain a liquor licence.However, because most of the prospective shebeen licensees had applied before the said changes were implemented, the chairperson of the Khomas licensing board, Magistrate Johanna Salionga, said a separate date had been set to deal with shebeen licences.”The Khomas regional liquor licensing committee had a meeting yesterday (Tuesday).We decided, since it’s not the fault of the applicants nor that of the committee, applications for liquor licences will be postponed to a special date,” Salionga told an overcrowded courtroom.This date was set for September 27, she said.Although applications generally expire within 60 days of a committee meeting, Salionga assured concerned applicants that this rule would be overlooked in this instance.While there is no need to re-advertise in newspapers, applicants were told to fill in the new simplified “Form 1A”, which was introduced last month.”As usual, no success” were the first words spoken by Nasa’s Kandenge as he left the Magistrate’s Court.”It’s the usual thing.They postponed licensing in 2004, and now again.Wholesalers, bottle stores, they’re all there getting licensed.But the system has to be complicated for the small person.”More than 2 000 applications had been received from the municipal area of Windhoek alone, according to Salionga.A few applicants spoken to raised concern about the fact that they would not be able to send anyone besides a legal representative to the September meeting. This issue was also raised with the committee earlier.”All I’m saying is that at the next meeting we expect progress to be made,” one woman fumed.The Namibia Shebeen Association meets with shebeen operators in Windhoek this afternoon to discuss issues surrounding their licence applications.Among the changes brought about last month is the abolition of the requirement for a separate toilet for each gender, and for the floors to be covered with a smooth finish.From now on, shebeens will not have to adhere to a given area’s applicable planning regulations, and their will no longer need to seek the approval of a health officer before setting up his business.The sittings of the regional liquor licensing boards have also been increased from four to 12 a year.As far as could be established from independent sources, all other regions except Karas included the licensing of shebeens at their meetings.The return date for applicants in the Karas Region, as indicated by a court source as well as by Kandenge, is apparently the end of this month.