Ondangwa
The area around the Ondangwa bus terminal is an eyesore as it is surrounded by rubbish, human excreta and other filth exacerbated by a cheaply constructed drainage system that overflows into it.
Not too far from the terminal is a water canal drowning in domestic refuse and also human excreta.
Bus drivers have particularly complained, resulting in their shunning use of the terminal as if it is the plague.
This was confirmed by the Namibia Bus and Taxi Association (NABTA) chief of road safety patrol, Theophelus Haihambo.
When this newspaper visited the area on Friday it was greeted by a strong stench of putrefied filth and human waste.
Not too far behind the Town Square complex is a mound of human waste and water flowing into the open market.
However women vendors were hard at work trying to make the most of a very bad situation and still selling their fruit, roasted meat and vetkoek (fritters).
Children were also found playing in the pool of water discarded from over a fence by some Asian business people.
Currently bus owners are loading and off-loading passengers elsewhere in town.
This should not be the case, said Haihambo, adding that a standing court order prohibits bus owners from loading or off-loading passengers anywhere else other than the terminal.
“But what can we do? Those we have asked said they refuse to use what they call the human faeces terminal,” said Haihambo.
Haihambo related that Nabta has put up a fence around the terminal. However, he accuses the Ondangwa Town Council of wanting to remove the fence.
“We are trying to keep the place clean but it seems as if the council is not happy. We have animals sleeping here and the place is always dirty in the morning so we were trying to prevent that,” said Haihambo.
According to Haihambo, engaging the town council has proved futile. Haihambo said he has visited the council’s office many times but he was always sent from pillar to post.
Haihambo said his office is appealing to the council to enforce the court order so that bus owners can utilize the place that was meant for them.
When the acting chief executive officer Paul Ndjodhi was contacted for comment he tongue-lashed the journalist saying he was not available before he hastily cut the call.
“I told you to call me after one hour, where were you. I am not available now,” he said abruptly.
His cellphone went unanswered after the agreed one hour.