Staff Reporter
THE Oshikango open market in the Helao Nafidi town in the Ohangwena Region was not opened to the vendors like other open markets were opened countrywide when the lockdown regulations were relaxed for the Stage 2 of the State of Emergency.
That was because the town council is still busy upgrading the open market to make it meet social distancing and other requirements.
This information was provided to Informanté upon inquiry following a flood of complaints from vendors who are unhappy that the Oshikango open market remains closed despite the relaxation of the lockdown regulations.
According to the town council’s local economic development officer, Selma Kapembe, the opening was held up by ongoing upgrading works that will cost an estimated N$700, 000.
The job is being done by local construction contractors, she said.
She further noted that the town council invested N$6 million in the construction of the new Oshikango open market which had the capacity to accommodate 700 vendors and was opened to the public in 2018.
The current upgrading is meant to increase not only the carrying capacity, but also the safety and security for both the vendors and their customers.
With the completion of the current upgrading, the open market is expected to accommodate approximately 1, 200 vendors.
The open market – which is located a stone’s throw from the Namibia-Angola border – has a special section for Angolan vendors who are allowed to sell their products on specific days of the week: Mondays and Fridays.
Kapembe said that no Angolan trader would be allowed into the open market if the upgrading is completed before the opening of the international border, closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic currently devastating the whole world.
