Ekutu operational again
Finally reopened after two-year closure
The municipality of Walvis Bay recently reopened phase two of the Ekutu Market after a two-year closure due to Covid-19.
Ekutu Market, which is located in Kuisebmond, consists of two areas: Phase one allows only food traders and phase two caters for traditional liquor traders.
Phase one was reopened last year, while phase two remained closed due to unsanitary conditions that reportedly prevailed in this particular area.
The area was subsequently revamped and the market committee sent out several letters to the municipality of Walvis Bay requesting that it be reopened since its closure had left hundreds of traders unemployed and others homeless due to a lack of income.
According Abraham Nghipunya, chairperson of the Ekutu Market committee, the municipality acknowledged receiving the request. “A meeting was held between the committee and the municipality, after which the reopening of phase two of the market area was announced.”
Another meeting between the committee and the traders followed to inform them about the reopening of the market, as well as the do's and don’ts as per the new market standards aimed at ensuring a hygienic environment for traders and buyers.
“The committee is happy, and so are the traders, because they can return to sell goods and make a living for themselves. Hopefully the traders who had moved to the dump site and other illegal structures due to unemployment, can now start making money again and afford to rent decent homes for themselves.” he said.
According to Nghipunya, many traders could not afford to pay their landlords and had to move back to the North or seek refuge at the dump site or other illegal structures.
Mathew Indongo, a trader at the market, expressed his appreciation for the reopening of the market. “Since its closure, we have been suffering. We could not pay our rent and we also couldn’t buy food to feed our families. But now we can at least start selling again to make money for ourselves and look after our families.”
Another trader, Titus Shambo, told Erongo24/7 that a lot of traders had left Walvis Bay when the market was closed. “Many people died here in Walvis Bay because of hunger due to unemployment and others got chased out of their homes by their landlords. Since the market was reopened, some traders came back from the North to try and make a living for themselves again.”
The market accommodates over 400 traders.
[email protected]
Phase one was reopened last year, while phase two remained closed due to unsanitary conditions that reportedly prevailed in this particular area.
The area was subsequently revamped and the market committee sent out several letters to the municipality of Walvis Bay requesting that it be reopened since its closure had left hundreds of traders unemployed and others homeless due to a lack of income.
According Abraham Nghipunya, chairperson of the Ekutu Market committee, the municipality acknowledged receiving the request. “A meeting was held between the committee and the municipality, after which the reopening of phase two of the market area was announced.”
Another meeting between the committee and the traders followed to inform them about the reopening of the market, as well as the do's and don’ts as per the new market standards aimed at ensuring a hygienic environment for traders and buyers.
“The committee is happy, and so are the traders, because they can return to sell goods and make a living for themselves. Hopefully the traders who had moved to the dump site and other illegal structures due to unemployment, can now start making money again and afford to rent decent homes for themselves.” he said.
According to Nghipunya, many traders could not afford to pay their landlords and had to move back to the North or seek refuge at the dump site or other illegal structures.
Mathew Indongo, a trader at the market, expressed his appreciation for the reopening of the market. “Since its closure, we have been suffering. We could not pay our rent and we also couldn’t buy food to feed our families. But now we can at least start selling again to make money for ourselves and look after our families.”
Another trader, Titus Shambo, told Erongo24/7 that a lot of traders had left Walvis Bay when the market was closed. “Many people died here in Walvis Bay because of hunger due to unemployment and others got chased out of their homes by their landlords. Since the market was reopened, some traders came back from the North to try and make a living for themselves again.”
The market accommodates over 400 traders.
[email protected]
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