Opposition parties deride govt over KBL

CHAKALISA DUBE
Staff Writer | Wednesday May 29, 2013 00:00

 

In a press statement released to the media last week, the company, which currently employs 57 people at its Palapye opaque beer wing, said it may be forced to shutdown the Palapye operation.The release said some of the employees will be absorbed into other branches around the country, while others will be retrenched.Opposition parties blame the ailing KBL business on the alcohol levy, reduction in alcohol trading hours and banning of selling alcohol from homes. 

Apparently, KBL announced that it will close its Palapye operations due to low sales, reportedly perpetuated by the introduction of the levy, reduction of trading hours and banning of selling alcohol in homes.Opposition party activists said they have been justified in opposing the measures, most of which were announced by President Ian Khama in an 'off-the-cuff' fashion at kgotla meetings around the country. 

'We warned the government against introducing the alcohol levy, reducing alcohol trading hours as well as banning the selling of alcohol from homes.  It was done without fully understanding its implications.The government must think again and come up with noble policies to fight alcohol abuse.  Our view is that the government must invest in educating the public about responsible drinking. Other policies meant to mitigate alcohol abuse, such as the ones that currently exist, can lead to job losses and drive some families into poverty as well as harming the health of the economy,' the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) spokesperson, Moeti Mohwasa said.

He added that through various forums, the UDC will continue to push government to rescind its policies meant to combat alcohol abuse all-the-while disadvantaging citizens.The Botswana Congress Party (BCP) Secretary General Dr Kesitegile Gobotswang, whose party was also vehemently opposed to the measures, said his party has been vindicated by the recent developments at KBL.

'We have always expected this to happen. What the government is doing is tantamount to embracing poverty. We do acknowledge that the current existing policies were meant to combat alcohol abuse and are beneficial, but the positives they bring to the country's economy are outweighed by the negatives.He said: 'The government should instead channel its energy on educating members of the public about responsible drinking and expunge these policies because they are certainly disadvantageous to the masses. 

The government has failed over the years to create jobs and the recession has also held back the country's economy. Further job losses, like it is happening at KBL, can only worsen the situation.'The government has always maintained a stiff upper-lip on the matter, saying it will not repeal its much-criticised policies meant to lessen alcohol abuse in the country.

In the past months, Minister of Trade and Industry, Dorcas Makgato-Malesu, has been quoted saying that alcohol abuse has led to the decay of morals in the country, thus prompting the introduction of the alcohol policies.Makgato-Malesu, who could not be reached for comment yesterday morning, argued that the government also holds a strong view that the advantages of its policies far outweigh the disadvantages.

It will not be the first time KBL retrenches its employees citing unfavourable trading conditions as a result of stringent beer regulations; it axed 92 workers on March 31, 2009. The company retrenched employees again in November 2008 following poor business due to the 30 percent levy imposed on alcohol.