Violence on foreign traders condemned
THE Vendors Initiative for Social and Economic Transformation have condemned the violence against foreign informal traders and the confiscation of their goods in Namibia and called on cooperation among vendors regardless of their nationality. In a statement issued by their spokesperson Luise Mwanyangapo yesterday, the organisation condemned the recent incident in which the Native Small […]
Press Release on the recent confiscation of vendors wares at the University of Namibia
VISET Namibia calls on the City Police and the University of Namibia to implement an expedient solution to the plight of informal traders operating outside the University of Namibia’s Main Campus in Windhoek for the sustainability of livelihoods 4 December 2024, Windhoek – The recent destruction of goods belonging to informal traders operating outside the […]
VISET Namibia Launches Phase I of Ongendhambala Open Market Renovations
https://www.namibiansun.com/local-news/onghendambala-open-market-revamped2023-07-25 Onghendambala Open Market Phase I Inauguration Honorable Nestor Kalola, Regional Councillor of Samora Machel Constituency, officially inaugurated the newly revamped Onghendambala Open Market Phase I in Katutura on Friday, 21 July 2023. This important development aims to empower Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and informal traders by providing a modern, conducive trading facility and […]
The Informal Economy’s Informal Edge: Why Formalisation Could Stifle Entrepreneurial Spirit
While street food stalls, artisanal workshops, and other informal marketplaces have long been the lifeblood of many communities, authorities increasingly pressure vendors to conform to rigid regulations. As this vibrant tapestry of entrepreneurial activity faces increased scrutiny, a critical question arises: Should these informal economies be forced into the mainstream? The primary driver of this […]
Acknowledging the Informal Sector is Overdue
In African countries, the informal sector is an important provider of goods and services to locals in urban and rural areas. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) says in Africa close to 83% of jobs and 85% in sub-Saharan Africa are informal. Following the hosting of a policy dialogue event in 2022 at Victoria Falls […]
Compassionate Governance Needed in the Informal Sector
Windhoek Mayor Queen Kamati’s recent site visits to assess traffic flow and enforce by-laws, particularly concerning illegal trading, have sparked a significant debate about the city’s approach to managing its informal sector. While efforts to maintain order and cleanliness in the nation’s capital are understandable, the manner of the mayor’s engagement with informal vendors raises […]
INTEGRATING INFORMAL SECTOR CAN PROPEL FINANCIAL REACH
Namibia follows global trends in terms of the informal economy’s contribution to overall economic health. This is according to industrialisation and trade minister Lucia Ipumbu, who said it is estimated the informal economy contributes about 24% of the country’s GDP and around 56% of the labour force.Buy vitamins and supplements These significant inputs further justify the […]
Namibia Takes a Bold Step Towards Formalizing the Informal Economy
Windhoek, Namibia – September 13, 2023 The Bank of Namibia, the Government, and the UN organized a Multi-Stakeholder Workshop on the National Diagnostic of Informality. The event was held at the Safari Hotel & Conference Centre in Windhoek and was attended by a varied group of stakeholders from civil society, trade unions, government, private sector, […]
Informal sector contributes 56% to labour force
Namibia’s informal sector has been recorded to be the country’s largest employer and contributes about 24% to the country’s gross domestic product (GDP). This was revealed by the minister of industrialisation and trade, Lucia Iipumbu, during a workshop late last week to integrate the informal sector into the formal sector. “The informal economy is a […]