By Vetiraije Vii Ngombe
Okahandja, Nov. 11 – Along the dusty streets of Okahandja, small business owners sit beside their tables of fresh fruits, snacks, and handmade goods, doing their best to make an honest living. But for many, the weather has become their biggest enemy.
When the sun burns too hot, fruits and vegetables quickly rot. When it rains or the wind picks up, traders are forced to pack up and go home, losing a day’s income they desperately need.
“We survive from what we sell here,” said one vendor. “If it rains or gets too hot, we can’t sell and that means no money for rent or school fees.”
For many of these vendors, the small profit they earn feeds their families and keeps their children in school. But without proper shelters or market stalls, their livelihoods hang by a thread.
As the struggle continues, residents are calling on local authorities to provide affordable shaded spaces for small traders a simple step that could help protect both their goods and their dreams.
