Dear Editor,

A NOTICE informing shebeen owners in Mariental that the police will soon start to enforce the Liquor Act has been circulated to some shebeen owners. The notice carried no signature of any police official, but is authorized with the stamp of the Station Commander of Mariental dated 13/08/2007.
From the reaction of those involved in the shebeen business in the slums of Mariental, the emotions already run high and most of them are talking of demonstrating against this decision. It is also not clear when the police will begin to enforce the Liquor Act No. 6 of 1998.
All the notice says in the opening statement is: “All shebeen owners are herewith reminded that the selling of liquor without a liquor licence a criminal offence is (sic)”. The notice closed with the words: “All the liquor found at the premises will be confiscated”. When the station commander  was approached by the human rights office to clarify the issue, all that she irately said was: “Who came to you? Why did they come to you and not to me? Tell those who are complaining to you to come to my office.”
It is very important for all of us to understand that making a living income is a basic human right. Ipso facto it will not make sense for local authorities to simply decide that shebeens must be closed left, right and centre.
Do we really think that the people who are selling assortments of goods, including alcohol, in their structures which do not meet the requirement of obtaining a license” are doing it to defy the law?
If we really think so, then there is no doubt that our efforts to deal with unemployment and poverty in this country are not working out well. These people have got very few alternatives to make an income, and, for most of them, getting involved in the trading business at the level of the sub-standard shebeens is not only easy but economically sensible.
All what the government and local authorities need to do, is help such people meet the health and hygienic standards of the Liquor Act. Affordable financial and infrastructural investment is all that we need to do in this regard. If people can buy on credit at furniture shops, I see no reason why they would fail to pay off an affordable credit support.
Another issue that is usually overlooked is the fact that shebeeners do not only sell alcohol but other items as well. Alcohol is, in most cases, only part of the trading assortments.
What is the issue at hand, alcohol control or economic subjugation? Another argument constantly put forward by many people is the issue of the alcohol abuse in this country. If all those who are currently in the alcohol trade at the shebeen level have enough money to build toilets and shebeen facilities to the exact specifications of the Liquor Act, then the sky is the limit for alcohol consumption? So, I am urging local authorities in Namibia to explore ways of improving shebeen trading rather than flushing it out all together.
But let us all face it now, we cannot simply wake up one morning and have a strong economy that can keep busy all the people currently plying their trade through the shebeens or cucashops. Assisting these people until they naturally involve into other better economic players is the only way forward.
And we have all been witnessing how buildings which have been used as liquor holes in the residential areas are steadily becoming beauty saloons and electronic workshops. The next step up.

D. Uuyuni waKamati

Dear Editor,

HERE are my views about the ill-mannered behaviour of some police officials in Kamanjab.
Last Friday, August 17, I drove from Outjo via Kamanjab to Makalani to visit my family.
During sunset around seven or eight I left Kamanjab on the gravel road to Torra Bay. On the way another vehicle came from ahead with lights on. But between us there was a bridge and both drivers were not certain who should cross first. I was in my Isuzu bakkie.
I managed to cross the bridge first and when passing, I was stopped with lights and I realized it was a police bakkie.
When I stopped they jumped out of the vehicle with machine guns pointing at us. Without being polite, they started asking; “where is your driver’s license”. “I asked why?” They said that our car’s lights were bright and not normal. Their names are Constable Tjiteo and Constable Haikali.
Pointing of fire arms is a serious offence and police officers should know that they are not working with animals. All drivers do have the right not to stop theirs cars for anyone if not done officially. If police officers are not in uniform, like Haikali, how could I know that he is a police officer?
Police officers, on the other hand, must know that could be dealing with professionals, VIP’s, Ministers, Ambassadors etc. and change their attitude when approaching anyone. For me their attitude was highly unprofessional and very rude.
On the police bakkie were prisoners that even could have jumped off and disappeared during the time we quarreled because the police had very poor lights and no canopy. Sometimes we wonder whether they are trained police officers.
My request is that the community and station commander must consider behaviour of this kind very seriously and deal with it accordingly. We need good police officers that work for the benefit of our people and not the unskilled one’s like them.

Martin Samame Aebeb