Placido Hilukilwa
SMALL business owners, street vendors and concerned residents of Eenhana and surrounding communities have petitioned Ohangwena Regional Governor Kadiva Hamutumwa regarding the urgent construction of a decent and permanent open market.
“We are not asking for special treatment. We are asking for fairness, dignity, transparency, and a sustainable solution,” said the petitioners who marched to the Governor’s Office on Tuesday to voice concerns over a proposal to relocate them from their current place of business to a new temporary market.
They asked the Governor to facilitate constructive engagement between affected small businesses and street vendors, the Eenhana Town Council, law-enforcement authorities and other relevant stakeholders.
Photos: contributed.
“We appeal to your leadership to help facilitate a fair, peaceful, and sustainable solution that protects the livelihoods and dignity of ordinary Namibians who depend on small businesses and informal trading to support themselves and their families,” the petition reads.
The vendors said they are concerned about continued uncertainty surrounding the open market.
“Many of us have been operating from our current location following arrangements and engagements involving previous law-enforcement and local authorities. We therefore believe that any relocation should be handled through meaningful consultation, transparency, and a mutually acceptable process rather than through intimidation, confrontation, or the unnecessary deployment of force,” the petition states.
They made six specific demands:
– The construction of a decent, permanent and properly serviced open market capable of accommodating all affected small businesses and street vendors.
– Meaningful consultation with affected vendors and small-business owners before any relocation or major changes are implemented.
– A peaceful and lawful resolution to the current dispute, without unnecessary confrontation or the use of force against peaceful traders.
– Transparency regarding the ownership, management, allocation and development of the open-market facilities, including any decisions that have previously affected the market and traders operating there.
– A clear transition plan should relocation become necessary, ensuring that no trader is left without a viable place to conduct business.
– An inclusive stakeholder meeting, facilitated by the Governor’s Office, bringing together the Governor’s Office, Eenhana Town Council, law enforcement, affected vendors and representatives of small businesses to agree on a sustainable way forward.
“Small businesses and street vendors,” they said, “are part of the economic life of the community. They create livelihoods, provide essential goods and services and contribute to the local economy.”
They called upon Hamutumwa’s office to intervene urgently and help turn a difficult situation into an opportunity to establish a proper, permanent, safe, and inclusive open market that will serve the people of Eenhana and the wider Ohangwena community for many years to come.
Joseph Valombola, chairperson of the Eenhana Street Vendors and Small Businesses, who led the march, said they remain committed to peaceful engagement and constructive dialogue and trust that the Governor’s Office will give the petition the urgent attention it deserves.
