WINDHOEK – Despite orders from the Windhoek City Police for vendors doing business along Independence Avenue in the Central Business District to vacate the area they continue to do business there, saying they have nowhere else to go.
On Friday, the police confiscated goods and issued fines to those who were caught selling there. Foibe Gidion (38) who has been selling cakes, kapana, eggs and cigarettes since May last year there said over the weekend that she has an established customer base and that makes it difficult for her to vacate the area. More and more vendors are taking to the sidewalk in the centre of town to do business, despite efforts by City Police to keep them out. Senior Superintendent of the Windhoek City Police, Gerry Shikesho said in an interview with New Era last year when contacted on the same matter that the vendors conducting business illegally there. He added that for anyone to do business in Windhoek they should get permission from the City of Windhoek. Citing the Transportation Act, Shikesho said selling on sidewalks compromises the safety of pedestrians. “Sometimes you find that the sidewalk is completely blocked and pedestrians have to walk on the road,” he said. He also said vendors were allocated an alternative place in the city centre just across from the Roman Catholic Hospital to do business. Gidion however maintains that vendors there already have customers and she would not make money there.
“Before I started selling in town I did business in the location, but I always made a loss because customers never really bought my food. I would make N$50 a day and in town I make N$400 a day,” Gidion said speaking from her shack in the Havana informal settlement. She wants the City Police to allow a few vendors, including herself to do business along the sidewalk, arguing that they have families to support. “More people are coming to sell here. They must just be limited. I am the only one who sells food that people can eat immediately. My customers include taxi drivers and they have no problem with me it is only the City Police who have a problem with us, said the single mother of three.
By Alvine Kapitako