Africa-Press – Namibia. The City of Windhoek’s Committee on the Provision of Basic Services, chaired by councillor Fransina Kahungu has recorded a mixed bag of significant progress and challenges in its service delivery agenda.
Following a series of site visits and inspections conducted last week, the c0mmittee visited Babylon, Okatunda Y and B in Tobias Hainyeko constituency, Mix settlement in Windhoek Rural constituency and Farm 508 in Samora Machel constituency on Thursday.
The visits aimed to monitor electricity connections, sanitation installations and ongoing water and sewer services developments.
Electricity
At Okatunda Y, the committee found that good progress has been made in the 96 houses that are to be connected to electricity. However, delays persist for 28 households due to unresolved lease agreements and the absence of some property owners.
“It is worth noting that the electricity meters have been installed in every home by the contractor, with only the applications from the property management division still pending,” said Kahungu.
She also noted that a significant obstacle in the area stems from terrain and planning issues: “There is a need to level the area due to the big rocks in the vicinity… Many houses must be relocated to be built according to the design and layout of the area,” the committee observed.
She added that resistance from some residents had also stalled progress, but recent community engagements turned the tide. “Public meetings held on-site Thursday and Saturday, respectively, yielded positive results as many people agreed to relocate their houses to allow the electrification project to proceed,” Kahungu confirmed.
For Okatunda B, Kahungu reported that the electrification project is “on a good track as the bid to do the work is already awarded to the same contractor who is busy with Okatunda Y.”
She also shared the report about the installation of five high mast lights, with work currently underway. Targeted locations include Okahandja Park at the MTC tower, Groot Aub, behind the Otjomuise police station, Samora Machel southwest of Okapale and Max Mutongolume near the constituency office. Furthermore, 10 additional high mast lights have been awarded, most of which will be installed in the Samora Machel in collaboration with the Khomas Regional Council.
Sanitation
At Mix settlement, work on sanitation infrastructure, according to Kahungu, is progressing with support from private partners.
A donation of N$298 000 by Vivo Energy has facilitated the construction of a sanitation hub.
“About 40% of the work is done, as the water line to the main connection up to the sanitation office is completed. Currently, the work to construct the conservancy tank is taking place,” she noted.
Meanwhile, at Farm 508, the committee confirmed that eight toilets will be constructed for the flood victims’ relocation site. Additionally, Unicef has pledged to fund 100 dry pit toilets.
Kahungu emphasised that the use of dry pit toilets was possible because the City of Windhoek received the environmental clearance certificate for the installation.
Water
The committee also reviewed progress on the roll-out of communal water and sewer services for the 2024/2025 financial year. She said the communal water standpipes have already been installed in various informal areas: one in Otjomuise Agste Laan, three in Thlabanelo F, one in Thlabanelo G, two in Hadino Hishongwa A and three in the Saara Kuugongelwa area in Moses Garoeb constituency.
Nine additional standpipes are planned for Samora Machel and two for Mix. At Farm 508 again, eight toilets are being constructed for flood-relocated residents, and Unicef is funding the installation of 100 dry-pit toilets, for which the city council has secured environmental clearance.
Transport
The committee also addressed urban transport challenges, including concerns about delayed buses and high taxi fares due to insufficient regulation.
Kahungu said public complaints about late City of Windhoek buses and high taxi fares, especially in areas without designated taxi ranks, have prompted the committee to seek national intervention.
She continued, “Such regular occurrences happen due to the fact that the City of Windhoek’s buses experience delays. People walk long distances due to exorbitant charges of taxi fares.”
To address this, the committee plans to engage with the Ministry of Works and Transport to push for the gazetting of taxi charges and better coordination on infrastructure and fleet upgrades.
Kahungu reiterated the importance of these efforts as part of a broader mandate to assess, monitor and recommend actionable strategies for improving essential service delivery in the capital city.
“This committee exists to identify challenges, monitor progress and engage stakeholders,” she said. “Our duty is to ensure that residents are not left behind in the provision of water, electricity, sanitation and transport.”
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