WINDHOEK – Individuals who set up businesses illegally in shacks along Monte Cristo Road in Havana’s Samora Machel looked on in agony as officials working for the City of Windhoek demolished their shacks last week Thursday.
The demolitions did not go down well with the owners of the illegal businesses and onlookers who threatened not to vote during national elections slated for November this year. There were 18 shacks which housed illegal business operations. And while five people refused to vacate the area to make way for the expansion and upgrading of the road and the area only twelve opted to remove their illegal structures themselves. Community leader Fillemon Shigwedha said there were initially only fifteen businesses operating in the area and the owners knew about the upcoming project to expand the road and to build a proper and fully fledged open market for small informal traders. Shigwedha explained that the number of businesses escalated when word spread about the planned project, with many hoping that they too would receive preference by the time the envisioned project is completed. Those who attempted to offer some resistance were forcibly removed. The fifteen small traders who were legally permitted to operate from the area will also have to move as soon as the project which was supposed to commence in December finally kicks off this year. Some protested that the municipality had not given them advance warning, while others said they were indeed told beforehand about the planned developmennt and that they would have to vacate the area. Confusion, anger, threats and insults were the order of the day as angry onlookers and those affected maintained that they survive from their businesses “even if they are illegal.” Aron Jason who repairs shoes told New Era that he has been doing business there with his colleague since last year. According to him his colleague has been operating from the same spot a lot longer than himself.
“This is where we make a living from and they did not even tell us where we should go. I am very disappointed. They only told us this morning to vacate the area,” Jason complained bitterly.
A barbers shop part-owned by Johannes Johannes was also demolished. “I am making a loss because this is where I survived from. They were supposed to tell us. They are destroying our businesses, because they do not want us to progress. They are forcing us to go to the bridges and to engage in criminal activities,” lamented a female trader. “I will not vote in the upcoming elections. I will just register, but when I go into the voting booth I will draw a doll on the ballot paper and come out,” said another lady. “They just want to build their expensive flats, while chasing us away,” said another affected woman. The City of Windhoek’s Corporate Communications officer, Josua Amukugo who was present when the shacks were being demolished explained that the municipality is removing the shacks to make way for the planned road project.
“Most shacks were not operating here, but when they heard that the municipality is going to set up an open market for people that have businesses near the road they started setting up their shacks just because others are going to be considered,” said Amukugo.
By Alvine Kapitako