Alcohol not tolerated on Poly campus – Tjivikua
The Tswana dancing group performing its unique traditional dance to celebrate the official opening of the 17th Polytechnic cultural festival which ends this Friday. (Photograph by Lorato Khobetsi)
In line with the theme, this year’s cultural festival showcased the dynamism and diversity of the range of cultures found among the Polytechnic community. The festival provided an abundance of entertainment, with various traditional dance performances, live music performances as well as a gospel show.
Speaking at the official opening, Polytechnic rector, Dr Tjama Tjivikua said that the growing culture of violence perpetrated by men against women, is not entirely to be left to law enforcement only but society needs to speak in one voice against it.
“It has been sickening to observe the inclination of boyfriends to attack viciously young women when their affairs run into difficulties. The Polytechnic as an extension of society is not immune from such repugnant behaviour and just recently we experienced a painful tragedy of a female student who was strangled to death by her ex-boyfriend. The Polytechnic condemns such brutality in the strongest terms,” he said.
He said that the institution has recognised the urgent need for comprehensive programmes to address violence in society. Society however needs to denounce this ghastly behaviour with one voice.
He further raised concerns over alcohol abuse especially amongst the youth and warned that alcohol consumption on the Polytechnic’s campus will not be tolerated.
“Alcohol seems available at every corner of our streets and establishing illegal shebeens seems to be one of the most proliferating enterprises in our country, In this way alcohol consumption or abuse has gradually entrenched itself in the Namibian culture. It therefore now makes perfect sense that in 1996, shortly after I joined the Polytechnic of Namibia as the founding rector, the Polytechnic management together with the Polytechnic Council in its wisdom, took the decision to ban alcohol on the Polytechnic campus,” he added.
