Following the decision by government to implement the new traditional beer regulations, which prohibit traditional beer sellers from operating their businesses from households, the Mayor of Francistown, Shadreck Nyeku, has lambasted the government, saying that the regulations are a complete flop as there was never consultation with the people and councilors.
Speaking to the Sunday Standard on Friday, the mayor said that the regulations are bound to fail as most of the sellers were never involved in the decision-making process prior to implementing the laws.
“What the government should have done from the onset was to consult with people and the councilors. We also do not have sufficient resources as the Francistown City Council to help enforce these regulations,” Nyeku said.
The regulations, which became effective from the 1st of January this year, prohibit traditional beer sellers from selling traditional beer such as Chibuku and Phafana from homes and the sellers have been ordered to relocate to specific areas, such as depots. Sellers are also required to obtain licenses for them to operate their businesses.
Nyeku expressed his concern over the regulations, saying that the government failed to come out clear on where the sellers will be relocated in order to continue and run their businesses. He said that there are hundreds of traditional beer sellers in Francistown and only four depots in the city.
“These sellers earn their living through the sale of traditional beer. If they are evicted from their households where are they going to operate their businesses from because the government never came with sound answers of where they will be relocated,” he said.
However, the Acting Public Relations Officer of the Botswana Police, Dipheko Motube, could not comment on whether or not the police had begun their operations to enforce the regulations, saying that they were not yet ready to divulge such information.
