Africa-Press – Namibia. SWAKOPMUND – The Swakopmund Municipal Council has tabled a N$711 million budget for the 2025/26 financial year, focusing on infrastructure development, staff recruitment and service delivery.
Swakopmund is one of the best-run local authorities in the land, giving priority to housing and service delivery.
Tabling the budget last week, chairperson of the management committee, councillor Wilfried Groenewaldt said the budget reflects a 6.2% increase when compared to the previous financial year.
N$508 million of the budget is earmarked for operational expenditure, and N$203 million for capital projects.
Groenewaldt said council plans to fill 44 vacant positions across various departments during the new financial year. These positions include administrative officers, environmental health practitioners, lifeguards, electricians, town planners, building inspectors and several junior posts.
The recruitment drive is expected to cost the council around N$27 million annually in salaries and benefits, which is a direct response to public complaints about service delays and poor responsiveness in key departments.
“Residents have been raising valid concerns regarding turnaround times, and as a council, we have resolved to address these shortcomings. Filling these critical vacancies is not just necessary, it is overdue,” he noted.
Additionally, the bulk of the operational budget – N$365 million – has been allocated to employee-related costs, a 19% increase from the previous year. This includes N$13.5 million for annual bonuses.
“The wage adjustments were essential to retain skilled workers and improve service delivery. We are also aware of the burden these places on our budget, but our staff are the backbone of our service machinery. Without motivated and adequately-staffed teams, we cannot fulfil our mandate,” he continued.
In terms of capital investment, the council intends to prioritise water and sanitation upgrades, roads infrastructure and housing development. This includes N$26.5 million for sanitation, N$24 million for roads, and N$22 million for land servicing.
“This budget is not about figures on paper. It is a commitment to do better, and we invite our residents to hold us accountable,” he added.
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