Africa-Press – Namibia. Informal traders operating along the busy Havana Four-way stop in Katutura say they feel deserted by the City of Windhoek after waiting months for a promised relocation to a safer, designated trading area.
The vendors, most of them women who rely on street sales to support their families, told New Era that officials from the City visited the site two months ago and assured them they would be moved to a more suitable place, likely a formal market. However, they say communication has since gone silent, leaving them in uncertainty.
Speaking yesterday during a visit by New Era, Ndapandula Moses, who has been selling oshikundu and sweets at the spot since 2017, said conditions at the site are harsh and unsafe.
“We were told that we would be moved to a market being built near Ongos, and it’s now been two months since we last heard from them,” she said. “Conducting business here is tricky. It is dusty and windy, which makes it hard for us who sell food to provide customers with a clean meal.”
Moses added that beyond environmental challenges, their safety is a daily concern. “We have to deal with thieves who sometimes snatch our phones or take money from us because the area becomes very dark at night,” she said. “We also struggle with water. The tap is far from the road, so getting water to drink or wash utensils is always a challenge,” she added.
She pleaded with the City to urgently find a solution. “We ask them to get us a place where we can sell safely. We need a place where we can work without fear.”
Informal trading is one of Namibia’s most critical income sources for low-income households. Yet many traders in high-density areas like Havana operate without basic amenities such as shelter, storage, sanitation, or security. The Havana roadside sellers said they frequently lose stock to dust, wind, and theft, and sometimes face confrontations with motorists or nearby landowners.
Another trader, Hileni Veyo, said the lack of electricity creates additional financial strain. “I sell cool drinks, and I have to make sure they stay cold,” she said. “Without electricity, we have no option but to buy ice every day to keep the drinks cold, otherwise, we lose money. We do so much with the little we have, but we hope the council comes through and assists us,” she added.
Harold Akwenye, a spokesperson for the City of Windhoek, confirmed that they are in the process of building a new market. “I can confirm that we are currently building a market for them, and it should be opened before the Ongos road officially opens,” he said.
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