Tonota Chibuku traders to march on DC

EDWARD MPOLOKA
Correspondent | Friday January 27, 2012 00:00

They also resolved to march to the District Commissioner’s office, on a date to be set at their next meeting, to present a petition against the new law regulating the sale of beer. The meeting, which was presided over by Botswana National Front councilors Lemme Kgopa and Gaefele Sidombo, attracted more than 40 people from all the seven wards of Tonota South, the majority of who were women. Accusing government of insensitivity, they argued that by limiting beer trading hours, government was not only ruining the livelihoods of those concerned but interfering with their personal freedoms. The meeting poured water on government associating the myriad of social ills such as violent behavior, theft and acts of sexual abuse to alcohol abuse. As far as the meeting was concerned, even children from families where no alcohol is sold, commit crimes.

Nor did they accept the view that the sale of beer at home creates an environment which is hostile to children’s learning. Many of them even made reference to their own children whom they said hold respectable positions in society, despite having grown up in Chibuku-selling homes.  The traders insisted that there was neither reason nor rhyme in the suggestion that they should relocate to beer depots when they have not been offered plots. 'We can only relocate the sale of Chibuku if government allocates us plots for the depots it wants,' said Mantho Ntshipe. She accused government of abusing people and asked the councilors to invite President Ian Khama to Tonota for a meeting with them.  For he part, 56-year old Lelebemang Jarona, who said she has been staying at her mother’s plot because government has not given her a plot, wondered where government will get land for shebeens when it has failed to allocate business and residential plots to people who have long applied for them.

'So government wants us to do namula leuba?, she jeered. “It is not the answer. I worked for namula leubafrom 2007 to 2011, but I have nothing to show for it.' Jarona said even if land was available, setting up a depot complete with electricity was out of reach for most Chibuku traders.  Cambridge Kapalelo said when he sells Chibuku in his homestead, he is assured of security and is not eager to relocate to a depot.  Kelelelo Phamotse has been selling beer since 1966 when she was a pupil and sees no reason why it should be regulated. Mmaletsatsi Tumelo appealed to government to stop regarding Chibuku traders with contempt and to instead treat them as the citizens they are. 'We do not want to depend on government handouts. Let the President come here so that we share our displeasure with him,' said Lundy Marape. For his part, Kagiso Mphane said that by interfering with the business of the beer, government was impoverishing the people even at a time when their offspring would not be able to look after them because of the recession.  At the next meeting, which is scheduled for February 4, the petition will be written, placards prepared and the date for the demonstration set.