Unregistered vendors pose safety and health risk – city

The City of Windhoek has justified its crackdown on unregistered vendors from areas like the University of Namibia (Unam) and the Namibia University of Science and Technology (Nust) – while preparing designated relocation sites – by saying this comes amid safety and hygiene concerns.

Council spokesperson Harold Akwenye said the municipality has been consistently working towards maintaining safety and hygiene standards across all trading areas.

“One of the challenges we’ve faced is the operation of unregistered vendors, which poses safety and health risks not only to the vendors themselves, but also to the general public.”

This comes after vendors complained to The Namibian in August that the municipality’s decision to clamp down on their activities leaves them with “no choice” but to engage in acts of theft and robbery to provide for their families.

Sualtjie Coetzee (24) is part of a group of street vendors whose merchandise was confiscated and their operations shut down by the Windhoek City Police at Nust.

“We were keeping our hands busy. What must we do now? Must we rob, must we steal?”

Tom Forbes (32) said he had erected a modest structure by the roadside, capitalising on the steady flow of students in the area before law enforcement compelled him to dismantle the set-up over the weekend.

“Now that we are not keeping ourselves busy, we are forced to do those funny things like robbing people. We are hungry.”

He said vendors had been conducting business near the Nust library for almost six years.

A vendor in his late 20s, known as Lenny, said desperation may drive them to engage in petty crimes, potentially leading to their arrest.

“They want us to rob and after robbing, they shoot us. The president said we must help ourselves and that is what we are trying to do. Now it’s a problem. What do they want?”

Akwenye said vendors at Nust and Unam were evicted because the area they operate in is not designated for trading, while those near Shoprite were relocated to a pre-approved site at the junction of Werner List and John Meinert streets.

“The City of Windhoek is considering alternative and cost-effective ways to develop market facilities while waiting for funding. They are also open to allowing vendors to operate from undeveloped sites on a temporary basis, but only under certain circumstances,” Amutenya said.

The Municipal Council of Windhoek has established several open markets across different suburbs within the city which provide safe and suitable trading areas for traders and the community, Akwenye said.

The City of Windhoek recently approved a market development masterplan which identifies several current trading sites to be upgraded, along with additional new sites throughout the city, he added.

“The objective of the project is to allocate available and suitable sites within Windhoek for traders, while also ensuring the provision of basic services such as running water and ablution facilities, subject to the availability of funds.”

Akwenye said the aim of these markets is to provide essential physical infrastructure and support services to enhance the social, cultural and economic development of residents and traders.

Additionally, the municipality has identified various strategically located sites for food trucks and other business activities to generate additional employment and income opportunities in light of the high unemployment rate in the city, especially in certain areas.

“The City of Windhoek would ideally like to construct markets where needed. However, the capital required for the construction is not readily available and the maintenance costs can also be high. We strongly suggest that operators (vendors) avoid trading from road reserves and instead trade at the approved sites,” Akwenye said.

The City of Windhoek calls on the private sector to look at their corporate social responsibility budgets and make funds available for market upgrading and infrastructure development.

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