Feeling the pinch of paying rent

Vendors at Oshikango are feeling the pinch of paying monthly rental fees at the newly constructed Helao Nafidi open market.

They say they want to return to their old one where they did not pay anything to council for doing business.

This is according to the Helao Nafidi mayor, Eliaser Nghipangelwa, in relation to this week's mass demonstration by over 300 vendors, who say they are unhappy with council regarding the open market which was opened about a week ago.

Ever since the Helao Nafidi Town Council was established, it has not received any rates and taxes from the vendors doing business at old Katwitwi informal open market.

This, Nghipangelwa said, is the reason why the vendors are surprised by the fact that they are expected to pay for their stalls at the new open market in Oshikango.

“Of course they were never paying for selling at Katwitwi. This is their first time to experience making payments,” Nghipangelwa said.

He added that the vendors who do not have a problem paying rent are those that used to rent from others at Katwitwi, a rate which he said was higher than what they are expected to pay for renting at the new open market.

Meanwhile, among the many points raised in their petition, the vendors demanded to return to their previous site where they operated saying that they want to allow council to finish with the pending construction at the new open market.

Council still needs to construct a bus terminal at the site and is also faced with a challenge of relocating the vendors from Katwiwti to another site closer to the open market.

Regarding the monthly rental fee, which is in question, the vendors indicated that it is too high for them to afford.

They also asked whether the open market is for well-established business people or for the upcoming business people who want to make a living for their family.

“Is the open market constructed for the small business people or big business people because the rental prices are too high?” a vendor asked.

Meanwhile, Nghipangelwa said the rental fee is reasonable as it was already reduced from what council is actually supposed to charge them.

The vendors also complained about the location of the new open market saying that they are not doing good business which Nghipangelwa said is normal.

“I came to Helao Nafidi before the Katwitwi informal open market was established and I remember it was the same thing. Businesses were struggling when they moved there but it became better as time went on,” Nghipangelwa said.

The vendors further complained about the issue of the allocation of spaces at the new open market saying some Katwitwi vendors were left out and not given space to trade in the open market.

Nghipangelwa said this was done by the administration and not the politicians therefore the administrative staff can best answer on the issue.

Nghipangelwa said there has always been constant consultations with the people.

He said at the time of the selection of the site, where the new open market should have been constructed many years ago, Nghipangelwa said the vendors, together with council, agreed on the current site. Therefore the issue raised about the location is not justifiable.

Another point also raised was the issue of water as vendors at the open market are expected to pay for using water at the premises.

Nghipangelwa, however, indicated that the issue of water is still being looked at and an amicable solution will soon be found.

Nghipangelwa said the petition will be announced at this month's upcoming council meeting and then sent to a management committee and be presented in the following council meeting.

KENYA KAMBOWE