Windhoek
The Church of Africa Youth League has called for a reduction in alcohol sales at trade fairs and expos across the country.
The national chairperson of the youth league, Sikisa Ndjavera, says the use of alcohol among the youth at trade fairs has significantly increased over the years, because of an increase in the number of outlets selling alcohol at trade fairs and expos.
According to him, this prevents the youth from focusing on real issues, such as meeting industry partners and customers to study activities of rivals to examine recent market trends and opportunities. “I know that it’s a business but the question is: are we really organising these events for the benefit of the organisers or destroying our young people in the communities?” asks Ndjavera.
He wishes that upcoming trade fairs and expos, like the Omaheke Trade Fair, would consider lowering the number of alcohol outlets. “We cannot be having more than 150 stalls and half of that selling alcohol, yet expect good results [from] the trade fairs,” he says.
“It’s now the right time to see what other activities our SMEs should do for the benefit of the community rather killing our future. These are factors that contribute to crime, car accidents, poor living standards, poor performance in education, teenage pregnancies (abortion, school dropouts, HIV/AIDS),” he says.