City seeks safe trading solution for Chinatown vendors

Informal traders operating at Chinatown have agreed to apply for available trading spaces at the City's formal markets while the City of Windhoek considers plans for the development of a permanent formal trading facility at the site.

The agreement followed a meeting between City officials and representatives of the 104 traders after the vendors staged a peaceful march to the City's Head Office this week to raise concerns over an instruction requiring them to vacate the area.

As an interim measure, the traders will be encouraged to apply for available stalls at Bonsmara Market and other designated municipal markets.

Vendor representatives also proposed contributing N$200 per month towards the future development of a formal trading facility and indicated they would establish an association to strengthen engagement with the City.

The City said the development of a formal market at Chinatown remains part of its long-term plans but would require substantial investment and the installation of essential infrastructure, including water, sewerage and other municipal services, before construction could begin.

The discussions followed the City's decision to require more than 100 informal traders to leave the area over what it described as ongoing concerns relating to safety, hygiene and compliance with municipal by-laws.

According to the City, complaints from formal businesses and residents have included traffic congestion, trading on road reserves, poor waste management, open fires near private properties, sanitation concerns and the use of children in trading activities.

Applicable by-laws

City of Windhoek Chief Executive Officer Moses Matyayi said the municipality had engaged with traders on several occasions and would continue to educate them about the applicable by-laws, although compliance remained a challenge.

"Our concern is the safety of both traders and the public. Trading on road reserves, poor waste disposal and fire hazards place lives and property at risk.

"The City's responsibility is to protect everyone while ensuring that trading takes place in a safe and orderly environment," Matyayi said.

The City said it currently operates more than 20 formal trading markets across Windhoek and has identified a further 19 sites for future development.

It noted that Bonsmara Market, located near Chinatown, already provides formal trading space.

However, vendor representatives argued that relocating there could reduce customer traffic because most shoppers use the current roadside location.

Mayor Sakaria Uunona said the issue was not about preventing people from earning a living but about ensuring orderly and lawful trading.

"The argument that formal markets are too far from customers cannot be used as a blanket excuse. We have seen markets where traders relocated successfully and continue to operate. We must work together to build a trading environment that benefits everyone," Uunona said.

The City reiterated that enforcing municipal by-laws was intended to ensure trading takes place in a safe, healthy and regulated environment rather than to deny residents economic opportunities.

Officials said a formal written response outlining the agreed way forward would be issued to the traders following the meeting.