Vendors left in limbo at Werner List Mall Shoprite Parking
Vendors at the Werner List Street Shoprite parking area in Windhoek have been prevented from trading for the past three weeks, leaving many struggling to put food on their own tables.
The situation, which initially unfolded on 7 February and is ongoing, has cast a shadow over the livelihoods of traders who rely on daily sales to support their families.
According to committee member of the Werner List Street Shoprite parking traders, Ruthi Malungu, several of the affected vendors have been operating at the site for over a decade and now have no alternative place to conduct their businesses.
“Some of our vendors slept at the location last night [Tuesday] because they have nowhere else to go,” Malungu said, her voice tinged with frustration and disbelief.
The traders had previously received official confirmation from the City of Windhoek to operate at the Werner List Street Shoprite parking area. A letter dated 29 October 2025, signed by N. Kamho, Acting Manager of Economic Development, authorised 27 vendors to trade at the site until a formalised trading area was developed.
Sondaga Nella, one of the vendors, said that each trader had been allocated a specific stall number by the City. “We were even shown a market layout plan and told that the area would eventually have proper shading and sanitation facilities, including toilets,” she said. “Once those facilities were in place, we were to pay a monthly fee of N$266 starting at the end of March. But now, it feels like we are invisible to the City.”
Despite these allocations, City Police have allegedly prevented the vendors from trading, leaving them in a state of uncertainty. Ester Andreas, another vendor, said she had purchased stock worth N$15 000 just before the clampdown. “Most of it rotted and I had to throw it away. Now I don’t even know how to pay the suppliers back,” she said.
The vendors wrote to the Mayor of Windhoek, Sakaria Uunona, last week, appealing for clarification and the reinstatement of their trading rights. In their letter, they expressed distress over the removal of their belongings and the lack of communication from City officials.
“Some of us even received two days’ training from the City, and now it feels like it was all for nothing,” said Malungu.
Customers at the scene also expressed frustration. Many who rely on the vendors’ fresh produce cannot afford to buy elsewhere, leaving them in a difficult position. “Not all of us can afford takeaway food. That’s why we sometimes buy from the vendors here. Moving them would be like taking bread out of their mouths, too,” a distressed local customer told Network Media Hub.
The atmosphere at the Werner List Street Shoprite parking area was tense, marked by a mix of sadness and frustration. Vendors stood by their stalls, uncertain about where they will operate next, while trying to remain calm amid the situation.
The City of Windhoek did not respond to the vendors’ concerns.
The vendors told Network Media Hub that they will continue to sleep at the Werner List Street Shoprite parking area until a resolution is reached that allows them to resume trading. - [email protected]
