Aletta Shikololo
Festus Hamalwa
EENHANA – A recent dispute between a Chinese businesswoman and a local street vendor, that ended with the woman paying an admission of guilt fine, has increased complaints against how Chinese businesspeople operate and behave.
The outrage has prompted local authorities to promise to investigate the accommodation arrangements of these shop owners.
Members of Swapo Party Youth League (SPYL) joined other activists in expressing their frustration over Chinese nationals who allegedly reside on their business premises.
The youth wing noted that some Chinese-owned shops double as apartments.
They feel foreign traders who make their offices/shops a home away from home is troubling on several fronts, calling the practice inappropriate and compromising the local rental business’ cash flow.
“We have taken note of the foreign traders, mostly Chinese, who have demarcated their shops to improvise for their residents yet they are operating business from business zoned erven. This does not only compromise the quality of health in their towns but deprive local businesses of the estate enterprise income.
“We don’t see the Chinese at rental apartments or houses where they are supposed to be renting. They are supposed to employ our youth as cleaners and domestic workers in their residences as well. How are they issued with fitness certificates in such situations?” asked SPYL’s secretary of labour and justice Willem Amutenya.
He added the local authorities are failing to address the matter, thus many Chinese took advantage and are sleeping inside their shops.
“Now we are not sure if Chinese have toilets inside their business premises or they relieve themselves in the bottles and pour urine on the people, like it happened recently in Windhoek,” he stressed.
Amutenya suspects that the lack of ablution facilities on the premises could be the reason the Chinese national, Weng Long Zumei, “had urine in a bottle”.
He therefore called on local authorities across the country to inspect foreign businesses “as soon as possible” and fully enforce the Public Health Act and all health regulations to monitor and control business activities in their respective towns.”
It is alleged that the Chinese business community ditch the residential demarcations and sleep in their shops to avoid paying rent.
Approached for comment, Lu Hairong, Chinese embassy spokesperson said, “The Chinese embassy in Namibia always request every Chinese here to abide by local laws. If there are any unlawful activities by Chinese citizens, they should be dealt with according to relevant laws.”
Over the years, the topic that some Chinese reside behind their stores arises in the public now and then. Residing behind a store is a tradition of doing business in China.
Among 2 000 or less Chinese business people in Namibia, not all of them are sleeping on their business premises. Many Chinese businessmen or businesswomen have their residences separate from their working areas. Some shop owners sleep in the business premises for the purposes of saving money or the convenience of working.
The complaints have prompted some of the local authorities to consider carrying out investigations into the allegations.
The mayor of Oshakati, Leonard Hango, condemned the practice, saying everyone, including foreigners, should rent or buy houses as it is the best and legal way, they can support local businesses.
“Oshakati Town Council did not give any consent to the Chinese to reside in their business premises. Therefore, we will investigate this allegation and find an amicable solution,” Hango added.
Oshikango and Windhoek are among the towns with a high number of Chinese-owned businesses.
The mayor of Helao Nafidi Town Council, Darius Shaalukeni, said the council will also investigate the matter as soon as possible before it causes chaos in society.
City of Windhoek spokesperson Harold Akwenye, however, disputed the allegations, stating a year or two ago, the city conducted an investigation into the alleged practice but they proved to be untrue.
According to him, the investigation was made by the health and safety officers at Chinatown.
“Or maybe somehow they got wind of it but at this point, we are not aware of it unless there is concrete evidence than I can comment on that but at this point in time, it is just an allegation,” said Akwenye.
He added it is prohibited for people to live/stay on business premises.
“If a building is zoned for business, than it is illegal to have a residential (sleeping area) within that building,” he said.
However, Lu disputed this, saying, “as far as we know, such activities of the Chinese residing behind stores don’t violate laws despite criticism from some locals. For example, the Windhoek Town Planning Scheme legally constituted in terms of the Urban and Regional Planning Act of 2018 regulates land use in Windhoek.
On land zoned ‘business’ dwelling units and/or residential buildings can be allowed provided that such dwelling units meet the provision of the scheme as well as any other legislation (e.g. Health Regulations, Building Regulations, etc.). However, in the case of land zoned ‘industrial’ dwelling units and/or residential use is not allowed.”