Africa-Press – Namibia. Mayor of the City of Windhoek Sakarias Uunona on Saturday called for stronger community participation in waste management as the municipality launched the 2026 Mayoral Clean-Up Campaign.
Speaking in Havana, Moses ||Garoëb constituency, Uunona said the city’s changing population dynamics require urgent , coordinated responses if Windhoek is to maintain environmental standards.
“In recent years, we have experienced a decline in these rankings,” he said, referring to Windhoek’s previous status as Africa’s cleanest city.
He noted that factors such as rapid population growth and municipal expansion have intensified service delivery pressures.
According to statistics cited by the mayor, Windhoek’s population has increased from about 340 000 in 2011 to approximately 486 186 in 2023, while informal settlements are growing at an estimated 8.2% annually. “These demographic realities highlight the urgency for coordinated, inclusive and sustainable interventions in waste management, infrastructure planning and community engagement,” he said.
The mayor stressed that the Mayoral Clean-Up Campaign is intended not only to improve cleanliness but also to strengthen long-term urban sustainability planning. The initiative, running until 17 October 2026 under the theme ‘Go Green, Skip the Plastic’, will see constituency-based clean-up activities rolled out across the capital. Uunona stressed the importance of shared responsibility, saying environmental stewardship must involve residents, businesses and civic organisations working alongside the City of Windhoek.
“The spirit of shared responsibility and civic pride is what will enable us to reclaim our position,” he said.
As part of the campaign, the municipality received 4 000 reusable shopping bags valued at more than N$300 000 from the Mobile Telecommunications Company (MTC). The bags will be distributed during campaign activities and at selected shopping centres to reduce reliance on single-use plastics.
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