Residents of the centrality of Quilemba, in the municipality of Lubango, capital of the province of Huíla, are apprehensive regarding the local administration’s decision to close all commercial services that operate adapted in homes. Due to the fact that the centrality does not include shops, residents disagree with the decision
There are thousands of people who live in the centrality of Quilemba, opened in 2019 by the President of the Republic, João Lourenço, without any social services, namely markets, bakeries, banks and pharmacies. To meet their needs, residents are forced to travel long distances despite the lack of public transport in that area of the city of Lubango.
In order to counteract the situation, some micro-entrepreneurs have adapted three-bedroom homes into commercial establishments, such as shops, restaurants, butchers, pharmacies, beauty salons, bakeries and snack bars. Meanwhile, these commercial operators were surprised by the information that these establishments will be closed, due to the fact that they are in inappropriate locations.
Rauna Johanes, a resident of the centrality of Quilemba for three years, in an area where the largest number of residences adapted into stores is concentrated, said that, despite being small and with few products, these have been reducing the distances traveled by residents in the city. search for services and goods outside Quilemba.
“This is a terrible measure, because I think that, before the local authorities close, they should give land to these entrepreneurs so that they can carry out their activities, because they are the ones who help us on a daily basis”, he observed.
Luísa Menezes also does not agree with the closure, due to the lack of public transport that connects the urbanization to large commercial areas or the Mutundo parallel market, which is 12 kilometers from the centrality.
“There are no markets here, there are no stores, everything is made in Mutundo, and people don’t always have money to pay for a taxi, for example, just to buy bread at the bakery”, he said.
A space for commerce was identified
Owner of a butcher’s shop adapted into a residence, Nuno Lupeke revealed that the information is his domain, however, he was told that, in order to build a commercial establishment, it is necessary to acquire an infrastructured piece of land that is being be sold at 8 thousand Kz per square meter. “We accept that the adaptations made to the residences are not correct, but our intention was simply to bring our services closer to the residents of the centrality”, he explained. Who shares the same idea is the young António Luís, manager of another commercial establishment, saying that he is just waiting for the local authorities to find a solution.
Local administration de-dramatizes The OPA-ÍS reporting team contacted the administrator of the aforementioned centrality, Enriques Domingos, who began by clarifying that many residences that were transformed into sales outlets have been harming public safety, with their activities, especially with noise pollution and road obstructions, due to poorly parked vehicles.
“We have already held two meetings with the owners of these residences adapted for commerce in order to think regarding the transition, as we have infrastructured land for this purpose. What we don’t want is for these traders to become distracted and other outside investors to come and occupy these spaces,” he said. On the other hand, Enriques Domingos assured that only all residences adapted for sales outlets whose activities disturb public order and the proper functioning of a centrality will be closed. “There are residences where commercial activity is carried out illegally, they close the streets with vehicles, play loud music, among others. We will close these,” he assured.
BY: João Katombela, in Huíla