Weak kwanza pains Oshikango vendors

A SMALL businessman at Omafo at Helao Nafidi town, Victor Kapofi, is an angry man – cheaper Angolan products have flooded the market and are killing his business.

This has been happening since July 2015 when the kwanza lost ground against the US dollar and took with it the whole Angolan economy amid falling oil prices and strapped government finances.

A number of Angolan vendors have also moved into Namibia where they are selling sugar cane, cooking oil, peanuts, tomatoes, onions, cabbages, potatoes and chicken.

Most of them come from Cunene and Cuando Cubango provinces in southern Angola close to the Namibian border.They brave the harsh winter weather by sleeping in makeshift structures.

Namibian small traders like Kapofi cannot compete with the Angolans who are selling a 25kg bucket of mahangu for just N$100 as compared to the N$170 locals charge, while chickens sell for anything between N$30 and N$40.

Kapofi told at his stall at Omafo last week that he had to let go of his five workers who helped him sell vegetables and mahangu because his customers are running for cheaper Angolan products.

“I had a couple of businesses. They were doing great by December last year but in February things changed. I had to send them home. They (Angolans) have taken us out of business,” he fumed.

Kapofi said he used to earn N$2 000 a day but now he hardly makes N$300.

Although he is angry and helpless, he says chasing away the Angolans will not change anything since Namibians are buying from them.

He, however, suggested that maybe the local authorities could allocate the Angolans a place from where they would sell as wholesalers.

“We know they are suffering back home but they should not be selling everywhere. They should only be allowed to sell at one point,” he said. Some of the Angolan vendors told at the border town last week that the situation in their country is compelling them to come to sell in Namibia.

Eva Mengela, who sells peanuts and sugar cane at the Katwitwi border post, said: “There is no business in Angola and things are expensive. It is better here in Namibia.”

Another Angolan, Silvana Nakahamba, who sells her wares along the Omafo-Engela road, said they are fleeing hunger in Angola.

“There are no customers in Angola. There is also hunger there. We cannot stay there,” Nakahamba said.

Johanna Joau, from Evale in Cunene, said she could not provide for her three children in Angola because there is no food.

Joau, who brought her two small children, also sells mahangu together with Nakahamba. The two cross into Namibia almost every day.

The situation, however, has benefited many Namibians who are taking advantage of the weak kwanza to buy good from Angola.

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