Auleria Wakudumo
The wave of violent protests, sparked by the removal of fuel subsidies in Angola, has left many Namibian informal traders stranded and unable to fulfil orders.
This has caused fear, as possible business closures loom, coupled with growing frustration by small traders in Angola and Namibia. Traders who travelled to Luanda to collect goods for resale through the popular ‘order with me’ system are now caught in a volatile situation that has turned deadly.
Johana Moshana, the owner of MJ Wonders Boutique and one of the traders currently stuck in Luanda, confirmed to New Era that while she and others are safe, the situation on the ground is tense and uncertain.
“We want to go home, but we are afraid things might get worse while we are on the way, which could put us at even greater risk,” she stated.
Moshana said that although her primary focus is business, the instability has severely affected movement and limited access to suppliers.
The shops they usually depend on are closed, with some that are destroyed completely and others operating under restricted hours.
She said she only managed to get about 50% of the goods.
She hopes that the situation gets better so that she can buy the remaining order.
Despite the challenges, Moshana confirmed to New Era that no Namibian trader she is with has been harmed or arrested.
“We are all safe, and we are truly grateful for that,” she affirmed.
Meanwhile, back in Namibia, customers who ordered items from traders are losing hope of ever receiving their goods.
Vute Shikongo, a 33-year-old vendor from Windhoek, said the delays are putting strains on local businesses.
“I order branded items from Angola because they are cheap, and the customs fee is low. However, runners are no longer taking our orders because the Chinese shops are closed, and some have been destroyed,” she said.
She added that even though they order from South Africa as well, the quality is not the same, and the customs fee is high there.
She hopes Angola will resolve the conflict soon so that the Chinese can return and reopen their businesses, as this will also benefit many Namibians.
International media reports state that the ongoing protests sparked by the government’s fuel price hike have led to widespread violence and destruction.
As of the latest figures, at least 22 people, including a police officer, have been killed, nearly 200 injured, and more than 1 200 people arrested.
Most of the protests began in Luanda and spread to other provinces after the fuel subsidy was removed and public transportation fares tripled.
For now, Namibian traders like Moshana and others have reached out to the Namibian embassy to alert them about their presence and the situation in Luanda.
“We will truly appreciate our government if they can give us more support during times like this and help with safe relocation, timely updates, or simply knowing that we have backup when things go wrong in Angola,” Moshana said.