Shilunga told Nampa that: "We spent already about N$7 million in levelling of the new open market site.

But we could not continue as the council has no money at this stage".

He could not disclose the estimated cost of the constructions of the new Oshakati open market, which is better known as Omatala.

Said Shilunga: "Application forms were already distributed to all street vendors to register for the council to know their numbers".

However, he revealed that arrangements were underway to prepare a 900-stands temporary site for the street vendors that demonstrated at the town last week against the town council's decision to ban street sales.

Demonstrators accused the Oshakati town council of banning street sales while the town leadership had failed to finish constructing the promised new open market.

The plan for the constructions of the new Omatala started about three years ago, but apart from the site levelling that is finished, it has so far failed to get off the ground.

-Nampa

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