Kavetja Ngaizuvare
Street vendors are an important part of urban life, providing affordable food and goods to the public, at their convenience.
However, despite their crucial role, their daily lives are filled with challenges, as they work hard to make a living.
This week, New Era spoke to a few vendors to hear challenges from their perspective.
One of them is Peter Hamate, a 19-year-old man who grew up in the streets of Katutura.
“I lost my mom at the age of 12, and I have never met my father. I work hard to support my younger sister as she became my responsibility at a very young age,” he said.
Forced by circumstances to take up parental duties post his mother’s demise, Hamate now sells tomatoes and airtime for survival, waking up as early as 04h00 every day.
On a good day, he said, he makes a profit of N$400, while a bad day in the office delivers around N$100.
Meanwhile, Claude Dieudonne Clovis is an egg-seller. Clovis (25) is a refugee from the Democratic Republic of Congo. He moved to Namibia, hoping for a better life for himself.
“It does not get any better; life is hard, but I need to support my family,” he stated. He starts his day between 06h00 and 07h00. His business revolves around selling eggs, which he buys from a supplier, and resells to customers.
He buys the eggs for N$600, and on a good day, he can make up to N$400 as the eggs last him close to three days. He supports his mother in the DRC and a few of his younger siblings with his income. In Windhoek, he stays with a girlfriend and a child Clovis pushes through long days, hoping to make at least N$2 000 per month.
Maria Kangogoro is another vendor. At 36 years old, Kangogoro has mastered the art of selling kapana (grilled meat) and fat cakes at Black Chain Mall in the heart of Katutura.
Her day starts at 03h20 as she prepares food to sell. With three children, including an eight-year-old and a one-year-old, she works hard to ensure they never go to bed on empty stomachs.
“I have no husband to help me support my kids. I work hard to provide for them,” she said. On a regular day, she makes about N$40, but on good days or at the end of the month, she can earn up to N$2 000. She walks to work every day, cutting costs to maximise her income.
Throughout our interaction with the vendors, some common challenges could be deduced.
They face fluctuating income, long working hours and competition. Despite these struggles, their hard work keeps them going. Every day is a new opportunity to earn, support their families, and hope for a better future.
Spokesperson of the City of Windhoek Harold Akwenye stated last September that the number of registered street vendors in Windhoek is 890.
At the time, he said the number of unregistered vendors remains a mystery.
“They [unregistered vendors] are removed off the streets, but they pop up somewhere else,” he added.