Wernhil market vendors face eviction

Several vendors trading under a bridge at the Wernhil Flea Market in Windhoek may face eviction if they do not settle their accounts with the City of Windhoek within seven days.

According to the spokesperson of a vendors’ committee, who did not want to be named due to fear of victimisation, the names of the affected vendors have been handed over to RedForce Debt Management.

The spokesperson says the vendors are overdue with their rent payments.

“The vendors decided not to pay their rent for the last four years because this market is the most expensive market in Windhoek,” the spokesperson says.

He further says RedForce has given the vendors seven days to make arrangements to pay 45% of the rent they owe or face eviction.
City of Windhoek spokesperson Lydia Amutenya says she will only be able to provide comment on the matter today.

According to the vendors, the municipality cannot expect them to pay their debt when they have not recovered from the financial impact of Covid-19.

A stall vendor, who opted for anonymity due to fear of victimisation, says he is expected to pay his employees, buy electricity and pay the municipality from the N$5 000 he earns monthly.

“Imagine in these small stalls, we have to pay N$3 000 per month. Plus my own electricity.”

The vendors say the municipality cannot make use of debt collectors when it has not provided vendors with proper amenities.

“When we were making the agreement for this shop, they told us that they have security guards, they have cleaners, but there are no cleaners here. We used to clean for ourselves. As you see, the dustbin is full of rubbish. We have to pay someone to come and pick this rubbish,” the vendor says. Another vendor says she has not recovered after Covid 19 which has caused her bills to accumulate.

She says the location of the market under the bridge is not ideal as customers prefer to go to other markets.

“Sometimes, even for two weeks, I do not sell anything. If you are lucky, then you do sell something.”

Another vendor says the customers they do get are those who make their way to the informal buses behind the bridge.

“But those people are not buying. They are just going to the bus. We are suffering. How much do you think we are getting here?”

He says the municipality increasing their has rent caused many vendors to seek greener pastures elsewhere.