By: Mathias Hangala
The City of Windhoek (CoW) has been requested to do more in availing facilities to small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and informal traders.
This is according to the chairperson of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Economy and Industry, Public Administration, and Planning (PSCEIPP), Iipumbu Shiimi, after the members of the committee conducted a familiarisation visit to SMEs and informal trading markets across Windhoek on Tuesday.
The tour aimed to help legislators better understand the working conditions, challenges, and operations of informal traders in the capital. According to Shiimi, the committee noted that more trading facilities and workshops for light industries are needed in the city.
“Ablution facilities at informal trading centres are also urgently needed,” he noted.
The committee will submit a report to the National Assembly with recommendations on how the challenges identified during the visit can be addressed. This report is expected to guide legislative oversight, budget allocations, and potential policy reforms.
The committee first engaged CoW leadership on how it supports SMEs and informal traders in their respective jurisdictions. Thereafter, the committee visited SME and informal trading facilities in the city centre, Havana, Katutura Central, Okuryangava, and Single Quarters.
The tour began at the City Council Chambers, where the delegation received a briefing from CoW chief executive officer and senior officials on the challenges faced by CoW in managing informal trading.
Shiimi explained that the purpose of the tour was to gain deeper insight into the challenges faced by SMEs and informal traders.
“As we all know, the SME and informal sectors are critical to the livelihoods of our people. Through their hard work, SMEs and informal traders put food on the table for many families and employ a significant number of Namibians. It is essential that state institutions, including municipalities, provide adequate trading and workshop facilities to support them,” explained Shiimi.
The committee’s tour included visits to several trading areas, such as Post Street Mall, the informal market near Wernhil Shopping Centre, Havana 4-Way, Bokamoso Entrepreneurial Centre, Liyeta Market, and concluded at Oshetu Market (Single Quarters), where the delegation sampled Kapana delicacies.
In addition to the chairperson, the visiting delegation included Hilma Iita, Imms Nashinge, Michael Mulunga, Sharonice Busch, George Kambala, Marta Itope, and Lilani Brinkman.
Community members welcomed the initiative, with Ester Shangadi describing it as a laudable effort by the City of Windhoek and the parliamentary committees to engage directly with SMEs and informal traders. She expressed hope that the discussions would lead to meaningful outcomes and tangible improvements.
“There is so much to learn from these hardworking individuals. Their resilience is truly inspiring. Every morning, as I walk through Post Street Mall on my way to work, I see them setting up their tents and tables, braving the cold, rain, and heat, just to earn an honest living and provide for their families,” Shangadi said.
Meanwhile, Gideon Shimpulu noted that informal trading is widespread across Namibia, emphasising the need for similar familiarisation tours to be conducted in other regions of the country, not just in Windhoek.
Despite the challenge of facilities, many people rely on daily trading, which has led to some selling on the street or in open areas throughout the city.
In light of traders trying to make an honest living, other community members spoke against City Police and Nampol confiscating traders’ merchandise, and instead called for them to inform the traders to move from prohibited areas.
