Pavement vendors under fire

VENDORS on the pavements along Swakopmund’s Mandume Ya Ndemufayo Road next to the Mondesa single quarters are considered by many as a nuisance, and even a danger to pedestrians and motorists.

Makeshift stalls clutter the pavement, especially in the vicinity of the open market and old taxi rank. The vendors there earn their money with all kinds of bric-a-brac, fruit and snacks they sell to those arriving or departing by long-distance taxi.Pedestrians have to squeeze their way through the stalls or walk in the street, not just endangering their own lives, but those of motorists too.The Namibian spoke to some of the vendors there on Wednesday and many of them agreed with these concerns.They said the current area was good for business because many people passed through there, but they would welcome a safer and more spacious trading spot.The recent opening of a new taxi rank at Swakopmund offered the ideal opportunity, they said, but the Swakopmund Municipality has not given them the go-ahead to move their stalls there.Until the green light is given, they will use the current location to do business.The General Manager of Health Services at the Municipality, Clive Lawrence, told The Namibian that the area just north of the new taxi rank is being prepared for vendors.Lawrence could not say exactly when everything would be in place.He said there were some minor issues to sort out before the new taxi rank would be fully functional.He said vendors wanting to set up shop at the new venue would be registered with the municipality.The new venue would not only be more spacious and safer, but would also give the vendors access to facilities such as toilets.They would also be guaranteed of many customers because all long-distance and urban taxis would stop there, he said.The vendors there earn their money with all kinds of bric-a-brac, fruit and snacks they sell to those arriving or departing by long-distance taxi.Pedestrians have to squeeze their way through the stalls or walk in the street, not just endangering their own lives, but those of motorists too.The Namibian spoke to some of the vendors there on Wednesday and many of them agreed with these concerns.They said the current area was good for business because many people passed through there, but they would welcome a safer and more spacious trading spot.The recent opening of a new taxi rank at Swakopmund offered the ideal opportunity, they said, but the Swakopmund Municipality has not given them the go-ahead to move their stalls there.Until the green light is given, they will use the current location to do business.The General Manager of Health Services at the Municipality, Clive Lawrence, told The Namibian that the area just north of the new taxi rank is being prepared for vendors.Lawrence could not say exactly when everything would be in place.He said there were some minor issues to sort out before the new taxi rank would be fully functional.He said vendors wanting to set up shop at the new venue would be registered with the municipality.The new venue would not only be more spacious and safer, but would also give the vendors access to facilities such as toilets.They would also be guaranteed of many customers because all long-distance and urban taxis would stop there, he said.