SOME Katutura street vendors are allegedly scavenging expired food stuff from the Kupferberg landfill dumpsite for sale to the public.

The vendors allegedly pick beef, chicken and matangala among other items from the western by-pass dumpsite on the outskirts of Windhoek.
Investigations by Informanté revealed that the vendors have made three holes through the fence which they use to gain entry everyday.
A security guard at the site who gave his name as Lazarus confirmed that the scavengers come in through the holes and pick stuff.
“They come in different groups. Damaras and Namas come together while Vambos come in their own group,” Lazarus said.
The security guard showed Informanté the holes in the fences and a water pipe that was allegedly cut.
 “We cannot stop them because they look destitute and harmless,” said Lazarus.
Windhoek Municipality Public Relations Officer, Elizabeth Sibindi said the problem has intensified over time and City Police addressed 62 scavengers on the dangers of picking food, entering and vandalising dumpsites.
“Control methods are in place to make sure that no one takes or scavenges the food. The City’s health inspectors are also present to monitor the safe disposal of the foodstuff.
Scavengers vandalise the fence and force their way onto the site mostly overnight,” said Sibindi.

She also said the municipality is not responsible for anything that happens outside the site should it happen that the truck stops in between and offloads some of the foodstuff to the scavengers by the road side.
“It is a criminal offence to vandalise the fence and they can be found guilty of trespassing however because the courts are full, this is regarded as a minor offence hence the scavengers are warned and released,” she said.
This incident comes a week after two children allegedly fell sick after consuming matangala bought from the street corners of Havana settlement. The mother of two children known to Informanté said the children told her the meat tasted bad but she ignored them as she was hurrying to town.
“I had to rush my kids to the clinic when they started vomiting and complaining of stomach cramps a day later,” said the mother.
Some street vendors in Havana and Ombili said they buy food items from cheap sources.
“You come across people selling tinned and sealed food at cheap prices so we buy and resale. We get complaints of customers getting sick but it’s the nature of the business,” said a Havana street vendor in Omutula Street.
- This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it