ONAUSHE – A quick on-the-ground observation has unearthed a sad reality of how residents of the Uuvudhiya constituency are abusing and addicted to tombo, a traditional brew.
When New Era visited the constituency last week, our crew bumped into learners, as young as seven, sitting at tombo shebeens, with their parents for a few sips on their way home from school.
According to information on the ground, this is the reality confronting most children in Ehafo Lyakandenge, who mostly end up being addicted to the traditional fermented drinks.
It normally leads them to drop out of school at a very tender age.
The brew is usually served in a half-gallon jar, costing between N$5 and N$10. And like bees on a honeypot, the jar is passed on from one person to another.
According to some parents that were found drinking tombo at Omatala in Ehafo Lyakandenge, most of them wake up as early as 06h00 with their children that already dropped school, just to come drink tombo, until in the evening. This is their daily routine.
One of the regulars is Mbaala Stefanus, who has neglected his wife and six children due to unemployment. He said he cannot force his children to go to school since he has nothing to feed them.
“Our children are suffering, and sometimes
we have to let them go to bed on empty stomachs or feed them tombo,” the agonised Stefanus said.
It is even worse for them as on some days, they are forced to drink on empty stomachs.
“When I drink tombo, I don’t feel hungry at all, it fills my stomach, I don’t know how, but that’s how it is. When I get money, I buy tombo and share with the others because they also share with me when they have money,” added Stafanus, pointing to the sharing culture among the imbibers.
New Era also stumbled upon a girl aged 10. She is from the San community.
She was sitting at Omatala and had come with her parents to drink tombo since there was no food at home.
‘’Once I get full, I will take my small brother home, leaving our parents behind. They will only get home at around 22h00,” she explained.
Meanwhile, Joseph Shipanga 12-year-old, is a school dropout. He does odd jobs here and there, including fetching water for the cuca shops. In return, he is paid in tombo.
“That’s how I live my life, I don’t care anymore, I gave up on my life. For now, only tombo matters,” said Shipanga.
One of the activists, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said some cuca shops must be investigated by authorities. This, the activist justified, was because most cuca shops operate in unhygienic environments and owners do not allow customers to use their toilets despite the fact that they spend most of their time there.
“It is not normal for someone to wake up early in the morning at 06h00 and all they want is to drink tombo,’’ the community activist said.
Uuvudhiya constituency councillor Timoteus Shivute is aware of learners skipping school and dropping out.
“The schools are working hard with the police and the ministry of gender to keep those learners in schools,’’ he said.
“As parents, teach your children to be responsible and focus on motivating them to become better people who in return will help you greatly. Discipline kids to refrain from tombo, guide and motivate the children not to stay away from school,” Shivute said.
- vkaapanda@nepc.com.na