Okahandja Expo fails to deliver
The return of the Okahandja Annual Trade and Tourism Expo was intended to celebrate economic revival, but it ultimately proved to be a disappointment.Held for the first time since 2020 due to the Covid pandemic, the five-day 14th Okahandja Annual Trade and Tourism Expo, which took place from 3 to 7 June, instead sparked a wave of frustration among exhibitors.
Many vendors accused the Okahandja municipality administrators of mismanagement, procurement irregularities and failing to prioritise local service providers. "I had to cancel payment for my stall," said one disappointed businessman.
"Imagine paying more than N$1 000, then spending even more on hiring a tent and chairs for four days and still not making your money back. I decided it is better to lose the stall fee than suffer a bigger loss."
Irregularities
Other exhibitors claim that critical services such as security and infrastructure were outsourced to suppliers from outside the town.
Another exhibitor, Hans Namutewa, alleged that nearly 90% of the security staff, including stage security, were brought in from outside Okahandja. "Even the tents were rented from Oshakati," he said. "Meanwhile, our own unemployed youth and local businesses are being sidelined."
The municipality has remained largely silent in the wake of the allegations. Maggy Sheya, marketing executive at the Okahandja municipality and head of the expo, declined to comment, stating she is not authorised to speak to the media.