The Opuwo Town Council (OTC) has since last week started registering and awarding fitness certificates to all new enterprises operating within the town’s boundaries.

The registration procedure is intended for all persons, corporations and organisations that are trading in the town in accordance with section 94(1) of the Local Authorities Act (Act No. 23 of 1992) in order to get a fitness/business registration certificate. Existing businesses will also be required to renew their registration.

McSean Makono, OTC’s Small Medium Enterprise and Business Promoter, told Nampa on Wednesday that Council expects to register as many businesses as possible before the end of August, with 500 vendors registered thus far.

Makono stated that all businesses operating in Opuwo are required by law to register with the council in order to safeguard their operations and prevent others from operating under the same organisation’s name.

“Town council is mandated by the Local Authority Act, Act No. 23 of 1992, to provide means for services, and all businesses operating within council boundaries should register with the council. We should have data on businesses in town. Knowing the statistics of businesses operating within its borders is critical for the council,” he added.

Makono went on to say that the cost of business registration and fitness certificates is determined by the size and kind of business.

Furthermore, Makono also advised that organisers of events such as bazaars should obtain a temporary license from the council, in order to comply with the liquor licensing legislation as encouraged by the magistrate.

The registration of businesses, he stressed will help the council in strengthening the town’s marketing image and conducting business in Opuwo.

Furthermore, Makono stated that all businesses must have a permanent structure or an actual physical location in order to be registered.

OTC will implement regulating measures to verify that all businesses operating inside the town’s limits are registered in accordance with the local government laws, he said.

Makono said that people or firms that fail to register their business will be fined N.dollars 2 000.

Source: NAMPA