The City of Windhoek says it will continue enforcing its by-laws while working with informal traders to find a sustainable solution following a peaceful march by vendors operating at Chinatown on Thursday.
More than 100 traders recently received notices to vacate the area over safety, hygiene and by-law compliance concerns.
Social justice activists Michael Amushelelo and Shaun Gariseb led the group, demanding designated land to operate.
The city says complaints from businesses and residents include illegal trading on road reserves, traffic congestion, poor waste disposal, open fires near private properties, sanitation challenges and the use of children in trading activities.
Chief executive Moses Matyayi says the city has repeatedly engaged vendors and educated them on the applicable by-laws, but compliance remains a challenge.
“Our concern is the safety of both traders and the public. Trading on road reserves, poor waste disposal and fire hazards place lives and property at risk,” Matyayi says.
The city says Windhoek has more than 20 formal trading markets, with 19 additional sites identified for future development. It also points to the nearby Bonsmara Market as an existing alternative for Chinatown traders.
However, vendor representatives argue that relocating to the formal market would reduce customer access because most buyers prefer the current roadside location.
Mayor Sakaria Uunona says the issue is not about denying people the opportunity to earn a living but about ensuring fairness and compliance with the law.
He says the city still plans to develop a formal market at Chinatown in the long term, once funding and municipal services are secured.
As an interim measure, the 104 affected traders are encouraged to apply for available trading spaces at Bonsmara Market and other designated sites.
Vendors also propose contributing N$200 per month towards the future development of a formal market and forming an association to strengthen engagement with the city.
