Africa-Press – Namibia. The state of harbour town Walvis Bay was at the centre of salvos between Swapo and the Independent Patriots for Change as they jostled for power and influence ahead of November’s polls.
The IPC wrestled Walvis Bay, Swakopmund and other key towns out of Swapo hands back in 2020.
It was unprecedented, as Swapo had until then not witnessed defeat there. However, with less than four months before the next polls, Swapo has blamed the deteriorating state of affairs in Walvis Bay squarely on IPC.
The IPC dominates the Walvis Bay Municipality. Earlier this year, Walvis Bay mayor Trevino Forbes, an IPC member, admitted that the town was at an all-time low. Meanwhile, the IPC rubbished the claims, saying Swapo’s criticisms were mere political theatrics rather than bona fide concerns.
Concerned resident
On Saturday, a delegation of concerned residents and business owners handed over a petition to the Swapo secretary general, Sophia Shaningwa.
Swapo’s top administrator was accompanied by urban and rural deputy minister Evelyn Nawases- Taeyele.
Walvis Bay resident Kobus van Schalkwyk, representing the community, said that they are worried about the declining road conditions and service delivery over the past five years.
Painting a bleak picture of Walvis Bay’s infrastructure, Van Schalkwyk said that the town’s roads are collapsing, as no maintenance has been done since 2021.
“I can’t even remember the last time road signs were repainted. Waste management is in crisis — bins overflow, streets are littered, and illegal dumping is everywhere,” he said.
Van Schalkwyk also highlighted health hazards affecting residents, saying that air pollution is rampant due to tyres being burnt, filling the air with toxic smoke.
“Water supply interruptions happen frequently, often without any explanation. There is a total lack of transparency and public engagement. We, the residents, are kept in the dark. Tender procedures in the municipality are a disaster. Not one project in the last five years has been a success,” he said.
He then directly challenged Swapo’s leadership about accusations that the central government withholds municipal funds because the council is opposition-led.
“If Swapo really has the power to sabotage, why do councillors still have funds for international travel while our town is left to decay? The municipality does not listen to its residents. We want our town to return to its good days. Please help us,” Van Schalkwyk pleaded.
Clarifying the party’s position, Shaningwa denied interference in the affairs of the town.
“We are not interfering in Walvis Bay’s affairs. This town generates its own funds and runs its own affairs. As former minister of urban and rural development, I know the progress Walvis Bay made under my tenure – houses were built [and] land was serviced,” she said.
She added that since then, services have deteriorated in the town.
She said Walvis Bay is a Part 1 municipality like Windhoek and Swakopmund, with infrastructure valued at billions, hence generating its own money through rates and taxes based on property values.
Shaningwa also agreed to the worsening conditions at the town.
“Critical infrastructure like water and drainage systems is failing. Blockages cause dirty water to flood streets. Waste management is a mess — rubbish is scattered all over town, and dumpsites are full. Despite daily revenue collection from residents and businesses, services continue to decline,” she told the concerned residents.
Gimmicks
Meanwhile, the IPC strongly condemned the public meeting called by Swapo as a “dictatorial manoeuvre” aimed at undermining the democratically elected municipality.
“This sham ‘public meeting’ is a politically orchestrated campaign backed by Swapo SG and deputy minister Evelyn ǃNawases- Taeyele. It is a State-sponsored assault on local democracy,” official opposition leader and IPC member Imms Nashinge said.
The party also accused Swapo of attempting “an illegal” takeover of a municipality they lost fair and square in the 2020 elections, warning that IPC will not tolerate blatant abuse of State power.”
He added that Walvis Bay has been devastated by Fishrot, leaving many unemployed and families broken by financial distress. “Swapo’s desperation ahead of the November elections is shocking,” Nashinge said.
Nashinge warned residents not to be misled by what he called “Fishrot Shaningwa’s clandestine intents” and vowed legal action should Swapo interfere in Walvis Bay’s governance.
“Namibia is a democracy, not a Swapo dictatorship,” he said.
Soul searching
Weighing in, political analyst Ndumba Kamwanyah alleges some level of political interference in Walvis Bay due to IPC control.
“There is political interference to some extent, particularly where Walvis Bay is controlled by IPC; however, IPC has not performed well in other councils where they hold a majority, including Windhoek,” he said.
He added that service delivery issues could negatively impact IPC in the upcoming local and regional elections.
He further emphasised Walvis Bay as a key political battleground due to its economic and historic importance, saying, ‘As a coastal town.’
“If current reports about the town’s state are accurate, then there is a serious problem. In the coming local and regional elections, IPC might be in trouble because their presence at parliamentary and council levels does not seem to be felt by voters,” Kamwanyah said.
Resident’s views
Additionally, Romeo Goseb, a former Walvis councillor, is a worried man.
Goseb defended the meeting between Shaningwa and residents.
“It’s within their rights to call a meeting as a platform at which they can air their frustrations, as Walvis Bay has unfortunately over the past four and a half years seen a visible decline in the delivery of services in critical spheres,” Goseb said.
He continued: “The state of our roads has never ever been in this state of raw dilapidation, and this can at best be described as an attestation of mismanagement, as the council has failed to arrest the situation over the years whilst wasting time on politicking in council over the years.”
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