Africa-Press – Namibia.
Finance minister Ericah Shafudah has announced that Angolan street vendors who trade informally in Oshikango will soon receive trading permits to operate in Namibia.
Speaking during a Swapo Party Youth League event on Saturday in Ondangwa, Shafudah said the measure will take effect this month and aims to bring order to informal cross-border trade.
“These street vendors from Angola who roam around Oshikango will now be granted permits to trade legally in Namibia,” said the minister.
Oshikango is a busy border town located within Helao Nafidi, in the Ohangwena region, and is known for its vibrant trade between Namibia and Angola.
The announcement responded to a youth member’s concern that unregistered Angolan traders are crowding the town’s streets, creating unhygienic conditions, and unfairly competing with local vendors.
Many of these traders reportedly avoid selling from the open market to escape monthly rental fees.
Shafudah said the new system will ensure that those trading at the border adhere to Namibia’s business regulations, making it easier for authorities to monitor and manage the informal economy.
Local vendor Rauna Kondjeni said competition has grown more intense, with Angolan traders offering similar products at lower prices.
“The market has become so competitive. They sell the same things we do, but at lower prices, so we lose customers. If the ministry formalises their trading, it will help control who sells where and make things more organised,” she said.
She added that some traders enter the country through unsecured sections of the border fence. “Even if the police chase them away, they always come back,” she said.
Residents have also expressed concern about the town’s growing litter problem, attributing it to the uncontrolled proliferation of street vending.
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