CoW to consider reducing rental fees for informal traders
Traders to be considered are those leasing and operating in municipal buildings, as they have been hard hit by the outbreak of Covid-19 that forced the country to go under lockdown.
The City of Windhoek's strategic executive for economic development and community services, Fillemon Hambuda, has said his department has submitted a proposal to council to consider reducing monthly rental fees for informal traders.
Hambuda said this while speaking on Tuesday at the Covid-19 communication centre in Windhoek on the impact of the pandemic on the city's budget and inhabitants of the capital.
He said traders to be considered are those leasing municipal buildings and those operating in municipal places, as they have been hard hit by the outbreak of Covid-19 that forced the country to go under lockdown. The lockdown slowed down most businesses and informal traders are severely affected, he said.
“We made the proposal to council to consider a stimulus package until the state of emergency is lifted. Once the council has pronounced itself on the issue, we can announce the stimulus package and I hope it is done within this week,” said Hambuda.
Land
Hambunda added that the City of Windhoek will also give land to informal traders in the industrial markets who are operating from small spaces, but wish to expand their businesses. Twenty-six plots have thus been set aside to allow informal traders to grow into fully-fledged businesses that can start paying tax.
“We will invite partners to take seven of the plots so we can develop them into industrial parks. This is mostly targeting car mechanics and spray painters who operate from backyards so that they can become fully-fledged business people,” said Hambuda.
He added that the submission recommends that people with normal water and electricity accounts be considered to benefit, especially those who have lost jobs and income during the lockdown.
The City of Windhoek's acting strategic executive for finance and customer services, Samuel Mutonga, on his part said he is worried about residents failing to settle accounts, which could also force the city to go into debt with its service providers.– Nampa
Hambuda said this while speaking on Tuesday at the Covid-19 communication centre in Windhoek on the impact of the pandemic on the city's budget and inhabitants of the capital.
He said traders to be considered are those leasing municipal buildings and those operating in municipal places, as they have been hard hit by the outbreak of Covid-19 that forced the country to go under lockdown. The lockdown slowed down most businesses and informal traders are severely affected, he said.
“We made the proposal to council to consider a stimulus package until the state of emergency is lifted. Once the council has pronounced itself on the issue, we can announce the stimulus package and I hope it is done within this week,” said Hambuda.
Land
Hambunda added that the City of Windhoek will also give land to informal traders in the industrial markets who are operating from small spaces, but wish to expand their businesses. Twenty-six plots have thus been set aside to allow informal traders to grow into fully-fledged businesses that can start paying tax.
“We will invite partners to take seven of the plots so we can develop them into industrial parks. This is mostly targeting car mechanics and spray painters who operate from backyards so that they can become fully-fledged business people,” said Hambuda.
He added that the submission recommends that people with normal water and electricity accounts be considered to benefit, especially those who have lost jobs and income during the lockdown.
The City of Windhoek's acting strategic executive for finance and customer services, Samuel Mutonga, on his part said he is worried about residents failing to settle accounts, which could also force the city to go into debt with its service providers.– Nampa
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