Informal traders in Namibia's major towns are operating in challenging conditions, with many lacking basic sanitation, secure storage and adequate trading space. A report by the parliamentary standing committee on economy and industry, public administration and planning found that traders in Okahandja, Windhoek, Swakopmund and Keetmanshoop face significant water, sanitation and ablution challenges. The committee conducted oversight visits to these towns between October 2025 and January 2026.
The report revealed that traders in some towns are forced to pay to use toilets, while others resort to using bushes due to inadequate facilities. At Swakopmund's open market, traders pay N$5 to use ablution facilities, while traders at the Epandulo SME Centre at Okahandja use the bushes because of poor facilities. The committee also found that ablution facilities at most informal trading premises in Okahandja and Windhoek are either in poor condition or non-existent.
The committee's report highlighted that traders at some sites lack permanent infrastructure and storage, forcing them to pack and unpack their goods daily, increasing the risk of stock damage and losses. Windhoek has approximately 3 000 traders operating from various developed and undeveloped sites, including approved and unauthorised locations. The City of Windhoek has identified additional sites for informal trading, but development is being hampered by a lack of central government infrastructure funding and rapid urban migration.
The committee found that Windhoek has struggled to identify suitable trading locations while balancing the interests of informal traders and formal businesses. At Semi Mall Market in the central business district, traders have raised concerns about security, poor maintenance and the absence of gender-segregated toilets. The committee observed broken paving and footpaths, poor cleanliness and inadequate storage facilities.
Okahandja faces similar problems, with traders at the Epandulo SME Centre operating in small spaces with non-operational ablution facilities. At Mbangula market, traders have pooled their own money to employ a night watchman to protect their stock. The Okahandja council has allocated N$250 000 in the 2025/26 financial year for the first phase of a proposed new open market, which is expected to accommodate about 100 traders.
At Keetmanshoop, the committee found that infrastructure exists but is not always operational. The open market is largely unusable because strong winds damage goods, while the !Homs Ai Community Market has remained locked following a water disconnection in October 2023. The report states that the Namibia Industrial Development Agency owed the Keetmanshoop municipality N$4.1 million for water, utilities, rates, taxes and electricity by March.
The committee also found that informal traders in Namibia face limited access to finance and business training. The report's findings highlight the need for improved infrastructure and support for informal traders and small and medium enterprises. The committee's chairperson, Iipumbu Shiimi, tabled the report in the National Assembly last week, highlighting the challenges faced by informal traders and SME operators in Namibia's major towns.
Key points
- Traders in Namibia's major towns lack basic sanitation and infrastructure.
- Informal traders face significant challenges, including poor sanitation, inadequate storage and limited access to finance.
- The Namibian government has been urged to provide improved infrastructure and support for informal traders and small and medium enterprises.
