The Otjiwarongo municipality is chasing vendors back onto the street after it sold the only open market in the town to a private entity without making provision for the vendors.
The municipality has sold the 6 347-square-metre plot for N$4.2 million to Amago Investment.
The company is co-owned by Otjiwarongo resident Dr Emirich Paulus, Swapo’s Khomas information and mobilisation officer and deputy director for asset management in the finance ministry Mirjam Onesmus, and a Chinese partner, Guihua Li.
The partners want to develop a crafts centre for tourists.
The mayor of Otjiwarongo, Bennes Haimbodi, confirmed the sale but could not provide details about the fate of the vendors.
“It is going to be private premises, but we have made agreement with the developer to accommodate these vendors on their premises. It is up to the land owner to commit to such an agreement,” he said.
Haimbodi could not also say where the vendors will be accommodated while the land is being developed. Vendors claim that the municipality informed them that it is constructing a new open market for them in the location.
“Whose bus goes to the location where there are no shops or service stations? This open market is the only strategic place for us to do our business. We sell to passers-by who pass through the town and not to town residents. We prefer to sell next to the main street,” said a vendor who spoke on condition of anonymity. The municipality will receive objections to the land sale until Friday.
Onesmus and Paulus each owns 40% shares in the company, while Li owns 20%.
When called for comment, Onesmus declined to do so over the phone, saying she prefers to do so in person.
Six years ago the Otjiwarongo municipality ordered the vendors, who mainly sell kapana (meat), to move their business from the streets to the open market.
Prior to the move, the vendors were trading in residential areas and in front of service stations in the town centre.
In 2013, two women from this group were arrested for defying the order.
ILENI NANDJATO