Ongwediva gets new open market

ONGWEDIVA, 04 APR – The Ongwediva Town Council has established an open market called Wilbard Haindongo for vendors in and around the town’s Oshiko suburb.
Ongwediva Town Council spokesperson, Jackson Muma told Nampa on Tuesday the council and the Local Economic Development Agency in the Ministry of Urban and Rural Development jointly funded the construction of the N.dollars 766 000 market.
It currently has 20 vending spaces for sellers of kapana, fruits, vegetables, traditional beverages and health products.
Muma pointed out that the establishment of the facility is aimed at accommodating vendors in a well organised space and to move them from unauthorised sites.
“The Ongwediva Town Council has once again made a mark in the area of local economic development by opening the doors of the Wilbard Haindongo Open Market situated at Oshiko near the Ongwediva Police Roadblock,” he said.
Although the only three vendors Nampa could find doing business at the market on Tuesday expressed disappointment that the market is not strategically located, Muma said its location is as per the vendors’ choice.
“We like the open market, but we are not satisfied that it is a hidden place and not easily accessible by everybody,” said the vendors, adding that it has attracted only a few customers during the past two weeks they have been in operation.
The facility is made up of a shade structure, braai area and ablution block and is surrounded by a security fence. It is guarded by 24-hour security personnel.
The construction of the market started in 2015 and ended last year.

NAMPA