Windhoek: The City of Windhoek has approved the establishment of 20 temporary trading markets throughout the capital, responding to longstanding requests from local street vendors for designated legal business areas.
According to Namibia Press Agency, this initiative seeks to mitigate challenges faced by informal traders, including inadequate shelter, exposure to adverse weather conditions, and regular enforcement actions against unregulated street vending, while fostering structured economic activity in high-density areas.
This was announced by Windhoek Mayor Sakarias Uunona during the ordinary council meeting on Thursday, where he noted that the informal economy accounts for approximately 26.5% of Namibia's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and employs 58% of the national workforce.
He emphasised that informal trading is a vital source of household income, driven by urban unemployment and poverty.
Currently, Windhoek has 18 open markets, including one communal car wash and four semi-developed markets, serving around 44,200 individuals. To tackle the ongoing shortage of trading spaces, Uunona said the council approved 20 temporary sites as part of its Market Development Masterplan.
"The Municipal Council of Windhoek has sanctioned a total of 20 sites where informal traders may operate temporarily under minimum hygienic conditions, pending the formalisation of these markets with more permanent facilities," he said.
The mayor announced that the council is considering public-private partnerships and private sector land exchange models to fund these developments.
"By implementing controlled measures such as site demarcation, infrastructure provision when funds become available, and the registration of traders, this will also enable Council to monitor compliance and collect relevant levies from the sites earmarked for temporary trading to aid the rollout of future market infrastructure development projects," he said.
Uunona noted that supporting informal traders enables thousands of residents to provide for their families with dignity and contributes to the city's development and prosperity.
He emphasised that while the council supports informal traders, these activities must adhere to legal regulations to ensure a conducive environment and a prosperous city for all residents.