Can gov�t cure self-inflicted �cancer�?

Mogalakwe PIC: KAGISO ONKATSWITSE
Mogalakwe PIC: KAGISO ONKATSWITSE

When government recklessly increased the infamous Alcohol Levy willy-nilly in the last eight years, there was caution from some quarters that the move was likely to usher in black market and uncontrolled drug abuse. Could there be a link between high alcohol prices and an increase in drug abuse? Mmegi Staffer BAME PIET explores the possibilities

At a pub in a township just less than 20 kilometres outside Gaborone, a group of youth are enjoying their drinks on a Saturday afternoon, probably after attending a funeral or preparing for a wedding in the neighbourhood. Social events and frequenting bars are the kind of entertainment common in rural areas where there are no recreational facilities. 

Rasta* joins one the groups carrying a 750 ml drink commonly known as a quart. Not far from the group of four, sits another seemingly older group of youth who are also busy with their conversation and not interested in Rasta’s arrival.

Editor's Comment
Batswana want measurable results

“Wish it. Plan it.Do it�– Jaipal SinghHowever, as President Duma Boko prepares to deliver his third State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday, the pressure is mounting for him to account for his government’s performance and demonstrate what it has achieved thus far. Batswana are increasingly impatient and want to see tangible results that translate into improved livelihoods. The public is no longer interested in ambitious political...

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