Hertta-Maria Amutenja
The City of Windhoek (CoW) has issued 155 compliance notices to businesses operating without a valid certificate of fitness or registration over the past five years.
Five businesses closed during this time, one as a result of a court order.
CoW communication officer Cillie Kapolo said enforcement measures include verbal and written compliance advice, issuance of notices, fines in collaboration with the City Police, and remedial actions such as closure orders.
“Enforcement is a last resort and is only applied after businesses have been given reasonable time to comply. Many businesses fail to obtain or renew their certificates due to non-compliance with health and safety standards, including sanitation and fire safety issues,” she said.
She noted that the city is working to simplify the registration process and provides guidance to businesses to ensure compliance.
While all businesses are legally required to obtain a certificate of fitness, Kapolo said the city supports small and informal businesses through education and awareness programs.
“A flexible approach is applied in certain cases at the discretion of the head of health services,” she said.
Businesses have up to 11 months to address non-compliance issues before renewing a certificate of fitness, which is valid for 12 months.
In cases where violations are detected, business owners are first advised on corrective measures and given a minimum of 21 days to comply before stricter enforcement is considered.
To raise awareness, the City of Windhoek issued a public notice encouraging compliance and promoting a fair business environment.
The city did not disclose the exact number of businesses currently operating without valid certification.
A small business owner operating without certification, who requested anonymity, said the process of obtaining a Certificate of Fitness is costly and bureaucratic.
“I understand the need for compliance, but the requirements are unrealistic for small businesses like mine. I tried applying before, but the costs of meeting all the health and safety standards were too high. If they close me down, I lose my only source of income,” he said.
However, registered business owner Lazarus Mwashekele, who runs Catalyst Business Solutions, said compliance is necessary to ensure safety and fairness in the business environment.
“I registered my business because I want to operate legally and avoid any risks. While the process can be frustrating at times, it is important for businesses to comply with regulations. The city could, however, do more to assist small businesses in navigating the process,” Mwashekele said.
