Omuthiya market still closed
ILENI NANDJATO
OSHAKATI
Vendors at the Omuthiya open market are unhappy with the town council over the delay in reopening the facility.
With operations coming to a halt on 27 March in an effort to curb the spread of the coronavirus, government has since issued a directive for markets to reopen.
Situated along the B1 road, the market is often crowded and caters for travellers from all over the country who prefer it due to the variety of homemade goods sold.
Hunger
Sara Joseph, a vendor at the open market, said while other vendors are back in business, they have been told they will only resume their activities on 15 May.
She said they have suffered financial losses and hunger during the lockdown period.
“Why do we have to resume business on 15 May if other open markets throughout the country have resumed operations?” Joseph asked.
“Do these people know that we are suffering of hunger at our houses or [do] they think that we all received the N$750 emergency income grant?”
According to the council, about 500 vendors sell their wares at the open market, while it only has the capacity to accommodate 200.
Council to blame
Another vendor, Petrina Shonena, blamed the town council for the situation. She said over the past year, the council failed to establish a secure market for them.
“We are all aware of what is happening in the world and we come here to sell on our own risk, because we have families to feed. How are we going to survive during this closure period?” she asked.
Renovations
Omuthiya local economic development and tourism officer, David Ismael, said the delay is due to the renovation of the market.
The town council had planned to renovate the market before lockdown, he said.
“The open market was in a dilapidated state and the town council decided to make use of the lockdown closure to renovate. The council was also not happy with the way people were doing business at the open market and is now planning to ensure that when they resume, there will be order,” Ismael said.
“In the course of this week we will find out when business operations will resume, depending on the progress made by the renovation team.”
OSHAKATI
Vendors at the Omuthiya open market are unhappy with the town council over the delay in reopening the facility.
With operations coming to a halt on 27 March in an effort to curb the spread of the coronavirus, government has since issued a directive for markets to reopen.
Situated along the B1 road, the market is often crowded and caters for travellers from all over the country who prefer it due to the variety of homemade goods sold.
Hunger
Sara Joseph, a vendor at the open market, said while other vendors are back in business, they have been told they will only resume their activities on 15 May.
She said they have suffered financial losses and hunger during the lockdown period.
“Why do we have to resume business on 15 May if other open markets throughout the country have resumed operations?” Joseph asked.
“Do these people know that we are suffering of hunger at our houses or [do] they think that we all received the N$750 emergency income grant?”
According to the council, about 500 vendors sell their wares at the open market, while it only has the capacity to accommodate 200.
Council to blame
Another vendor, Petrina Shonena, blamed the town council for the situation. She said over the past year, the council failed to establish a secure market for them.
“We are all aware of what is happening in the world and we come here to sell on our own risk, because we have families to feed. How are we going to survive during this closure period?” she asked.
Renovations
Omuthiya local economic development and tourism officer, David Ismael, said the delay is due to the renovation of the market.
The town council had planned to renovate the market before lockdown, he said.
“The open market was in a dilapidated state and the town council decided to make use of the lockdown closure to renovate. The council was also not happy with the way people were doing business at the open market and is now planning to ensure that when they resume, there will be order,” Ismael said.
“In the course of this week we will find out when business operations will resume, depending on the progress made by the renovation team.”
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