Vendors say City is pushing them to commit crimes

Vendors say the City of Windhoek’s decision to clamp down on their activities has left them with “no choice” but to engage in acts of theft and robbery as a means to provide for their families.

Sualtjie Coetzee (24) is part of a group of street vendors whose merchandise was confiscated and their operations shut down by the Windhoek City Police on Tuesday morning at the premises of the Namibia University of Science and Technology (Nust).

“We were keeping our hands busy. What must we do now? Must we rob, must we steal?”

Tom Forbes (32) narrated how they had erected a modest structure by the roadside, capitalising on the steady flow of students in the area. However, law enforcement officers compelled them to dismantle the set-up over the weekend.

“Now that we are not keeping ourselves busy, we are forced to do those funny things like robbing people. We are hungry,” Forbes says.

They have been conducting business near the library for almost six years, however, recently the police’s stance on shutting down their activities has intensified, says Forbes.

Expressing his concerns, another vendor in his late 20s, known as Lenny, says desperation may drive them to engage in petty crimes that could ultimately lead to their arrest.

“They want us to rob and after robbing, they shoot us. The president said we must help ourselves and that is what we are trying to do and now it’s a problem. What do they want?”

The Khomas Regional Council in January revealed that about 50% of young people living in Windhoek are unemployed and joblessness continues to be a challenge in the region.

NOT ALLOWED

The municipality recently initiated a comprehensive endeavour across the entire city targeting street vendors, asserting that this practice is not permissible anymore.

Instead, individuals aspiring to engage in street selling must submit applications to participate in regulated markets specifically designated for vendors to showcase and sell their products.

“You apply to obtain a spot in one of the formalised markets. No one gets a permit to operate as a vendor in the streets,” Windhoek municipality spokesperson Harold Akwenye says.

The City Police by-law unit is patrolling all areas to identify illegal vendors and to remove such illegal vendors.

Akwenye said those who are found selling merchandise at undesignated areas will be fined up to N$2 000, and their goods will be confiscated by the police.

Akwenye says the decision by the municipality to intensify the eradication of street vending stems from multiple factors, including the safeguarding of public well-being, upholding of orderly conditions, and effectively overseeing urban development.

“The removal of street vendors may be due to concerns about traffic congestion, hygiene and sanitation issues in specific areas. Additionally, the City might have zoning regulations that restrict street vending in certain zones to maintain the overall cityscape,” Akwenye says.

Street vendors are frequently prohibited from operating in areas with heavy traffic to avert congestion, he says, adding that conducting vending activities beyond the confines of municipal markets is discouraged.

“It’s essential for street vendors to be aware of the local regulations, obtain the necessary permits or licences, and operate within the designated areas to avoid potential conflicts with law enforcement,” Akwenye says.

Vendors are advised not to operate unless in possession of a permit issued by the municipality’s economic development department.

“However, as a caring city, it’s also important for the council to consider the livelihoods of these vendors and work towards finding amicable solutions that balance their economic activities with urban planning and safety concerns,” Akwenye says.

The city has made provision for about 16 permanent markets, such as the Soweto market, Single Quarters and the Oshetu community market.

TOO MUCH RED TAPE

According to Herbert Jauch of the Economic and Social Justice Trust, individuals who turn to informal trading frequently do so out of necessity rather than preference, as they find themselves compelled by dire circumstances with limited alternatives.

“If you take a very bureaucratic approach and say they can only be in designated areas and you create administrative hurdles to still make a living, you drive them into absolutely nothing,” Jauch says.

Given the absence of successful job creation initiatives and a basic income support programme, attempting to restrict the sole source of income generation available to these individuals becomes counterproductive, says Jauch.

“The City should sit with the affected people and look into ways where their operations can be accommodated, instead of punishing and removing them. Perhaps look into what can be done in terms of sanitation. That can be done in isolation, it must be done with them, the vendors,” Jauch says.

He highlighted the importance of addressing the concerns of individuals engaged in street vending, with the aim to prevent them from feeling compelled to turn to a criminal lifestyle due to a perceived lack of alternatives.

“When you have no chance of finding a job, no income and you don’t qualify for anything with no solution in sight, an obvious strategy is to resort to crime to just survive and make ends meet,” Jauch says.