via Bulawayo24 NEWS | ‘Legalise shebeens,’ says Minister 24 June 2014 by Staff reporter
A shebeen is an informal, unlicensed establishment or a private house selling alcohol but typically regarded as slightly disreputable. They were popular in Zimbabwe, both before and after independence.
In an interview on the sidelines of the Routes Africa Summit in Victoria Falls, Tourism and Hospitality minister Walter Mzembi said his ministry was in the process of lobbying for legalisation of shebeens in a bid to attract tourists into townships.
“As part of ZimAsset, we are working on bringing back shebeens to the townships to provide entertainment and employment opportunities to our people, that is what value addition and beneficiation is all about.
“Tourists have also been confined to resort areas where a few people have continued to benefit, but we are saying our people in the townships can also benefit by attracting tourists with an upgraded shebeen concept,” said Mzembi.
Governments of Zimbabwe, South Africa and Botswana banned shebeens after they were said to be promoting vice, especially prostitution but the initial bans were instituted by the colonial governments who sought to crack down on what they termed insurgency gatherings.
Mzembi said shebeen owners would go through the normal procedures of business licencing and applicants would be required to have minimal standard infrastructure.
“Applicants of shebeen licences should have infrastructure that will meet the general standards of a public place, including a proper toilet, so people must start building up towards this development,” said Mzembi.
South Africa’s national rugby team, the Springboks, is also popular in Soweto’s shebeens as a way of promoting domestic tourism.
COMMENTS
Yet another step closer to creating that informally based economy that will unlock the goals of Zim Asset? Doubt it.
Perhaps the headline should read, “Shebeens to Rescue Mugabe from Indigenization Own Goal?”
As I said Mad people with Mad ideas. What tourist is going to come all the way to Zimbabwe to have a drink in a shabeen. First of all they are most likely to be mugged and relieved of their money.Tourists will visit Zimbabwe to see the beautiful sites and scenery the country have..
Bet you Disgrace Gucci will open an upmarket shebeen and the buffoon ministers like Mzembi will be rushing to open Shebeens
They will just create a nation of alcoholics and who will treat them with such poor heatlth facilities prevailing in the country?
If they licence them presumably they think that they can tax them
What kind of country will we be trying to build with such ideas? This not right
Next they’ll try to organize begging too, so they can fund Zim Asset. Oh wait! They’re already doing that!
Africanson welcome back Brother. This forum needs feed from the likes of you and others that we no longer see here.
Is there any chance that this idiot spends a lot of time in shebeens?
Possibly! So you will know where to find him if he is not in his office!
and you will find him drunk as a skunk
PETAL Sorry you insult skunks (jokes) they don’t patronize shabeens.
Mzembi ,probably has a few shabs lined up for himself. Farming is proving to be tough.
I wonder whether someone has done a market research and found out that the reason tourists do not come to the so called townships is that there are no shebeens?
I thought that shebeens only sold home brew? You know, the sort that makes you blind!
A very stupid idea from someone who has nothing to offer. Who wants to raise his/her family next to a shebeen? I am sure the very same minister would protest if his nextdoor neighbour was to open a shebeen.
Grace wants one so she can legally apply her trade late at night while robber sleeps
how ridiculous that is the only thing they can offer to those who are suffering what a selfish bunch of buffoons they are
Just when you think they couldn’t possibly come up with any more mad idea’s????
The idiot says they will be required to have a “proper toilet” has nobody informed this so called learned moron there is no water in the townships. How the F%$k can people provide a “proper toilet” for so called tourists dying to visit a shebeen when the general public can not access the most basic of human requirements??
Where the f$%k do these people come from outer space???
It is morally wrong to have shebeens sprouting all over our residential areas. I don’t see how this will benefit Zimbabwe.
What kind of baboons do we have managing our country? We owe billions of dollars for our international loans, teachers etc cannot be paid on time, national production is collapsing; but ‘Ah, saka mashebeena will fix everything’. Is this the best economic idea these fools have?? We are doomed……..
What a crazy idea,coming from a minister?Why not use Borrowdale suburb as a pilot project for this stupid idea which kills people’s morale?
How does he intend to control noise,prostitution and other evils associated with this business?Only low class tourists would visit such places and leave more HIV to our children.
Mixed Race nice to hear from you. You are 100% correct. We need more maturity from someone in his position. There is no balance in Zimbabwe’s politicians.
No no this is not possible mr minster the openning of so many beer outlets killed the market of council beer===halls. Today several councils can not match the maquiqui with the market now you want to increase the maquiqui for them NONONO NONO not fair
SERIOUSLY??? Tourist attactions in Zimbabwe SHEBEENS??? To come all the way from whatever country ..pay all that money only to squart at MaMoyo’s Pelandaba shebeen and drink alcohol???
Are you just making fun of townships? is that the only thing townships can offer tourists??? really?
Walter sometimes you strike me as a thinking person then at others you are just a toad.