Walvis Bay
Residents of the drug-ridden suburb of Narraville in Walvis Bay have appealed to the government to amend laws so that drug dealers get stiffer sentences for peddling narcotics.
The residents, joined by Swapo Party members, held a peaceful demonstration on Saturday morning through the streets of Narraville to voice their frustration against drug and alcohol abuse.
The residents included learners from Narraville Primary School and De Duine High School.
De Duine, which has witnessed cases of drug abuse at school, was also given a drug test kit to help the school detect learners using drugs so that they can be assisted to kick the habit.
Narraville Primary School principal and community activist Paul Fisher, who addressed the demonstrators, appealed to residents not to turn a blind eye to drug operations in the suburb and rather help the police in identifying the pushers and peddlers.
“Drugs are killing our community. It has a negative effect not only on the user but also on families and the society at large. It is an ill that robs us of many lives. The drug dealers smile because they get rich while our poor families are disbanded and our kids become addicts. I therefore urge you to report them for the good of our community,” he said.
According to Fisher, statistics indicate that only 36 percent of primary school learners in Narraville end up at high school.
“One cannot but wonder where the other 64 percent end up. Our president is calling for a fight against poverty, and drugs is one of the contributing factors to poverty. It is destroying our society. Our children are lured away from home to sell drugs by drug dealers just to wear expensive clothes and shoes. And if parents cannot give it (clothes and shoes) to them they become drug runners. They also do not want to start life with a small salary. They want to drive, expensive customised cars, because they are the men of the moment. Drug dealers are the injectors of such mindsets and we need to change this,” he said.
Fischer then questioned why people stealing livestock get stiff sentences while in many instances drug dealers walk free or only receive a fine of N$300.
“The Swapo Party must relook and change our laws so that drug dealers can feel the wrath of the law as some still continue their illicit trade while in jail,” he said.