The commissioner of Lakes State’s Rumbek East County on Monday issued a local order banning the sale and consumption of alcoholic spirits in the villages and cattle camps in the county.
Commissioner Mangar Machuol told Radio Tamazuj on Monday that spirits, both imported and locally distilled, foment violence in the communities.
“We have banned all types of alcohol here and the reason why we banned them is the behavior shifts from the young people. Most of the time, even though they are peaceful and they take alcohol, they misbehave. If they continue this way, maybe they will do something bad and it will take us back to the previous situation,” he explained. “That is why we banned alcohol and it is highly restricted in the town, villages, and even in the cattle camps. We are working to eliminate alcohol collectively with organized forces as well as SSPDF. It is a violation if found selling alcohol and when you are caught, you will be fined according to the existing customary law and public order.”
“As of now, the alcohol of the violators are taken by the organized forces and poured away and I can say that when you are doing business that is harmful to the society, then it is not a good business,” Commissioner Machuol added.
The official argued that the government is supporting women who claim to be brewing and distilling alcohol by ensuring that their children are safe from the dangers posed by potent drinks.
“We encourage them to look for other ways of survival like agriculture because we have fertile land and if you cultivate groundnuts, it is more profitable than making alcohol,” he stated.
According to Commissioner Machuol, the state government has restored security and people are free to engage in economic activities other than brewing and distilling alcohol.
When contacted about the ban, the Paramount Chief of Mathiang-kok Payam in Rumbek East County, Sultan Taban Malual Polic, confirmed the ban and said he seconded it.
“We do not want anyone who brings local brew or manufactured alcohol to the village. The commissioner has banned the brewing and selling of alcohol and its consumption in the villages. The issue of consuming alcohol has violated peace and reconciliation in the community,” he said. “The peace in Rumbek East County has been good but a few days ago, a person consumed alcohol and went and violated peace and reconciliation in the community and this is why we refused to allow brewing of alcohol here in the community.”
“If we find a woman brewing alcohol, she will be taken to prison because drinking alcohol brings death in the community yet there is no death in Rumbek East County and people are peaceful,” Chief Malual added.
He urged the youth to embrace agriculture as an economic activity.