Geingob gets ultimatum
Women hawkers have given the head of state until 14 November to resolve their issues or they will organise a mass demonstration.
Women street vendors held a peaceful march in Independence Avenue on Friday over their alleged harassment by the City Police.
The hawkers also demonstrated in front of Shoprite/Checkers and then proceeded to the gender ministry, where a petition addressed to President Hage Geingob was handed over.
The women have given the Office of the President until 14 November to resolve their issues or they will lobby support and organise a mass demonstration.
“We can no longer accept this situation,” the women said.
The petition is signed by 50 street vendors.
“We, the women selling vegetables and recharge vouchers in Windhoek, would like to bring to your attention the fact that we are being terrorised by the police every day. Our goods are confiscated, we are being harassed and insulted by the police, mostly the City Police,” the petition reads.
They said many of them are taken to jail and their children are then left starving at home, with nobody to monitor if they are going to school.
“We are fined by the City of Windhoek and often we are arrested and jailed because of fines. We are just mothers trying to earn money, so that we can feed our children and send them to school,” the women said.
They requested Geingob to intervene by putting an end to their harassment.
According to them, they are being imprisoned in accordance with section 55 of the Criminal Procedure Act 1977 (Act 51 of 1977).
The women say this legislation originates from the apartheid era.
“We want to know why we are being prosecuted, based on an apartheid Act, in a free Namibia. Our government is saying that nobody must be left out, but we the vegetable vendors feel left out and discriminated against.”
According to the women, the police hardly ever harass male vendors.
They also say they are also not informed where their goods are taken to, once confiscated, and most of the time their goods are lost.
These include recharge vouchers, cellphone covers, fruit and vegetables.
They claim the police take these items for themselves.
“We sincerely hope that the Office of the President resolves this problem as soon as possible.”
The women said if the police do not want them to work and earn money to feed their children, government must rollout a basic income grant for all women street vendors.
This grant should cover transport money for their children to school, three daily meals and all basic needs. The women want at least N$3 000 each a month.
The women also want the City of Windhoek to withdraw all the fines issued against them.
ELLANIE SMIT
The hawkers also demonstrated in front of Shoprite/Checkers and then proceeded to the gender ministry, where a petition addressed to President Hage Geingob was handed over.
The women have given the Office of the President until 14 November to resolve their issues or they will lobby support and organise a mass demonstration.
“We can no longer accept this situation,” the women said.
The petition is signed by 50 street vendors.
“We, the women selling vegetables and recharge vouchers in Windhoek, would like to bring to your attention the fact that we are being terrorised by the police every day. Our goods are confiscated, we are being harassed and insulted by the police, mostly the City Police,” the petition reads.
They said many of them are taken to jail and their children are then left starving at home, with nobody to monitor if they are going to school.
“We are fined by the City of Windhoek and often we are arrested and jailed because of fines. We are just mothers trying to earn money, so that we can feed our children and send them to school,” the women said.
They requested Geingob to intervene by putting an end to their harassment.
According to them, they are being imprisoned in accordance with section 55 of the Criminal Procedure Act 1977 (Act 51 of 1977).
The women say this legislation originates from the apartheid era.
“We want to know why we are being prosecuted, based on an apartheid Act, in a free Namibia. Our government is saying that nobody must be left out, but we the vegetable vendors feel left out and discriminated against.”
According to the women, the police hardly ever harass male vendors.
They also say they are also not informed where their goods are taken to, once confiscated, and most of the time their goods are lost.
These include recharge vouchers, cellphone covers, fruit and vegetables.
They claim the police take these items for themselves.
“We sincerely hope that the Office of the President resolves this problem as soon as possible.”
The women said if the police do not want them to work and earn money to feed their children, government must rollout a basic income grant for all women street vendors.
This grant should cover transport money for their children to school, three daily meals and all basic needs. The women want at least N$3 000 each a month.
The women also want the City of Windhoek to withdraw all the fines issued against them.
ELLANIE SMIT
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