City told to treat vendors with empathy

Political analyst Ndumba Kamwanyah says the Windhoek mayor’s order to vendors to operate only in designated areas appears to lack empathy.

Kamwanyah said this in response to Windhoek mayor Queen Kamati’s meeting with vendors at Okuryangava on Tuesday to assess traffic flow and by-law infringements, particularly concerning illegal trading.

“While addressing city cleanliness and adherence to by-laws is important, her remarks seem to lack empathy for the realities faced by those in the informal sector,” he said.

Tackling the reasons behind informal trading and finding lasting solutions is better than enforcing by-laws without considering the informal sector, he added.

Kamwanyah highlighted that dismissing the vendors’ activities without considering the socio-economic factors that drive them could be seen as tone-deaf and out of touch.

He noted that by-laws should serve the community rather than criminalise poverty and risk intensifying the vendors’ weaknesses.

“The mayor’s approach appears to prioritise the aesthetics of the city over the livelihoods of its people, which can deepen the divide between the city administration and its most marginalised residents,” he said.

The informal sector is a vital part of the Namibian economy, supporting many families and providing affordable products and services to those who cannot access them through formal channels.

Kamwanyah called for a more constructive approach that balances the need to maintain the city’s cleanliness.

He said identifying designated areas for informal trading should involve engagements with the traders.

“While the mayor’s intentions might be to uphold city standards, her approach could benefit from a more inclusive and compassionate stance,” he added.