Shebeen owners demonstrate in the North

HUNDREDS of shebeen owners in the North yesterday staged a peaceful demonstration at Ondangwa against the closure of the unlicensed drinking holes.

They marched to the Ondangwa Magistrates Court where they handed a petition containing their grievances. The demonstration, which was co-ordinated by the Namibian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NCCI) northern branch, turned political as demonstrators sang Swapo praise songs while at the same time urging the Government to reconsider the clampdown on shebeens.The demonstrators urged President Hifikepunye Pohamba to order the Police to stop closing down their shebeens.NCCI branch chairperson, Phillip Amwele, read out the petition which was addressed to Trade and Industry Minister Immanuel Ngatjizeko and to Justice Minister Pendukeni Iivula-Ithana.”The procedure of applying liquor licences is so difficult, many struggle to fill in these forms, ” said Amwele.Amwele also said that the building plans that were required are expensive and unnecessary.”At villages some buildings have existed for 30 years or more, but owners are required to submit building plans now,” said Amwele.The petition also said thousands of people depend on the shebeens for income and that the Government had failed to come up with other alternatives for them to make a living.The shebeen operators are appealing to Government to allow them to operate their businesses for at least 12 more months while applying for the liquor licences.Ondangwa Magistrate Mika Namwenya, who received the petition, assured the demonstrators that he would forward it to the relevant authorities.The demonstration, which was co-ordinated by the Namibian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NCCI) northern branch, turned political as demonstrators sang Swapo praise songs while at the same time urging the Government to reconsider the clampdown on shebeens.The demonstrators urged President Hifikepunye Pohamba to order the Police to stop closing down their shebeens.NCCI branch chairperson, Phillip Amwele, read out the petition which was addressed to Trade and Industry Minister Immanuel Ngatjizeko and to Justice Minister Pendukeni Iivula-Ithana.”The procedure of applying liquor licences is so difficult, many struggle to fill in these forms, ” said Amwele.Amwele also said that the building plans that were required are expensive and unnecessary.”At villages some buildings have existed for 30 years or more, but owners are required to submit building plans now,” said Amwele.The petition also said thousands of people depend on the shebeens for income and that the Government had failed to come up with other alternatives for them to make a living.The shebeen operators are appealing to Government to allow them to operate their businesses for at least 12 more months while applying for the liquor licences.Ondangwa Magistrate Mika Namwenya, who received the petition, assured the demonstrators that he would forward it to the relevant authorities.