LPM alleges racism at Rosh Pinah SME parkComplaints about selection of vendors The Landless People's Movement claims that vendors were not given a fair chance to apply for stall space. ELIZABETH JOSEPHROSH PINAH
Rosh Pinah residents say race still plays a big part in the development of the country, and that this has been made evident with the selection of vendors at the newly built small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) park at the town.
According to Landless People's Movement (LPM) chairperson for the constituency, Jimmy Boois, several underlying issues make it difficult for everyone, especially vendors, to enjoy the space.
"The people here in Rosh Pinah are suffering. Countless times, we've seen that preference is given to a certain race, while others are left behind. The closure of the Skorpion Zinc mine has had a devastating effect on us all and yet job opportunities are only given to a certain group of people. The vendors were not given a fair chance to apply for stall space," Boois lamented.
The SME park, which cost the regional council N$1.2 million, was established and opened on 17 June and accommodates just over 50 vendors who share 20 stalls.
In some stalls, there are more than two vendors and they say this is just one of the many concerns they have. No fee is paid by the vendors and nothing has been discussed regarding the matter.
Worried
Community committee member Wilma April said the vendors are worried about their health as well as the quality and safety of their products.
"Sharing such a small space with another person is very uncomfortable. There is no adherence to social distancing despite the increasing number of Covid-19 cases.
“Furthermore, vendors have to compete with each other more than ever to make sure they all make a profit on their products. Each vendor is afraid of what the other may do out of spite to jeopardise their business, and that is a fear no one should have to deal with," she said.
Despite the vendors’ desperate inquiries to the constituency council and pleas to consider their safety, their calls have fallen on deaf ears.
Some of the local traders and other community members have planned a protest and have drawn up a petition demanding answers around the youth development projects by the government, employment and tender allocations, and the exploitation of employees, among other things.
Questions sent to Lazarus Nangolo, Oranjemund constituency councillor, on the process used to allocate stall space at the SME park went unanswere