Clean For How Long? Open Letter to City of Windhoek

WINDHOEK, the cleanest city in Africa; sounds so good, right? I’m afraid in a few years’ time we will no longer stand tall and proud as Windhoekers if nothing is done, but what should be done? Windhoek is clean because there are laws in place that have been very effective for the past years, nobody has been allowed to set up shop without permission from City of Windhoek, but these days it’s happening and nothing is being done about it.

A dirty city begins with the small things we pay less attention to, in this case trading of goods. A lot of people these days are trading their goods anywhere around the city, I don’t know if I’m the only one who sees this as a threat to the cleanliness of this beautiful city.It’s not easy these days to walk along pavements, there are people selling clothing, sunglasses and other stuff everywhere.They spread out their goods on the pavement in front of Woermann Brock opposite the City of Windhoek, next to the FNB main branch, in front and at the back of Shoprite in the city centre, behind the Ministry of Environment, these are just few places to mention and yet nothing is being about it.There are officers all around the city.I was impressed to see a Namibian Police officer forcing one lady to gather up her stuff.Just last week I saw two ladies behind Shoprite (city centre) trading their goods under the nose of eight City Police Officers who were just chatting to one other.I know these people survive on what they are trading, but why can’t you find them a suitable place where they can all trade like the people selling our beautiful African beads and carvings along Post Street Mall.I noticed the people trading all over the city are Zimbabwean nationals, very soon the locals will join and it will be difficult for you to stop this practice, they will end up demonstrating and camping at the Municipal offices.Who knows, maybe they will even slaughter a cow! I would like to get a response from City of Windhoek on this issue.Mfhudisi WindhoekA lot of people these days are trading their goods anywhere around the city, I don’t know if I’m the only one who sees this as a threat to the cleanliness of this beautiful city.It’s not easy these days to walk along pavements, there are people selling clothing, sunglasses and other stuff everywhere.They spread out their goods on the pavement in front of Woermann Brock opposite the City of Windhoek, next to the FNB main branch, in front and at the back of Shoprite in the city centre, behind the Ministry of Environment, these are just few places to mention and yet nothing is being about it.There are officers all around the city.I was impressed to see a Namibian Police officer forcing one lady to gather up her stuff.Just last week I saw two ladies behind Shoprite (city centre) trading their goods under the nose of eight City Police Officers who were just chatting to one other.I know these people survive on what they are trading, but why can’t you find them a suitable place where they can all trade like the people selling our beautiful African beads and carvings along Post Street Mall. I noticed the people trading all over the city are Zimbabwean nationals, very soon the locals will join and it will be difficult for you to stop this practice, they will end up demonstrating and camping at the Municipal offices.Who knows, maybe they will even slaughter a cow! I would like to get a response from City of Windhoek on this issue.Mfhudisi Windhoek