Africa-Press – Namibia. Walvis Bay mayor and IPC vice president Trevino Forbes claims political interference within the municipality continues to cripple service delivery in the harbour town. Speaking during a press conference on Saturday, Forbes said it has become increasingly difficult for council to deliver proper services due to what he described as “deliberate sabotage”.
The press conference followed a clean-up campaign in Kuisebmond, where IPC members and residents joined hands to clear refuse piling up across the town. Walvis Bay is currently facing a serious waste crisis. Only one refuse truck is fully-operational, while the rest are frequently out of service. Overflowing bins and litter scattered all over have raised health and environmental concerns, especially during windy days.
Forbes said the council introduced several interventions, including road rehabilitation and refuse removal, but these efforts were disrupted internally.
“There is an element of sabotage within the municipality of Walvis Bay that needs to be dealt with. Something is wrong, and it’s political sabotage within the institution. We are going to deal with it decisively,” he said.
He had in the past called out the administration for not carrying out resolutions taken by council, stating that some are politically alligned and are being used to sabatoge councill’s efforts.
He added that IPC, which currently holds the majority of seats on the council, is open to working with anyone who puts the town’s interests first.
“This is what IPC is all about. We are willing to work with those that are willing to work for the betterment of this town, this region, and our country,” he said.
His remarks come after three IPC councillors recently defected to the Swapo party.
Forbes believes the defections and other setbacks are aimed at blurring the council’s achievements, claiming the current leadership has delivered more in five years than previous councils did in longer periods. As an example, he highlighted the allocation of over 2 000 plots to the Shack Dwellers Federation of Namibia.
“We tapped into our own resources and cleaned the town ourselves. But it’s important to ask: how is it possible that a huge municipality like Walvis Bay cannot even clean itself? How is it that refuse is not being removed, and tenders are constantly cancelled just before they are awarded?” he asked.
The mayor said he will work closely with recently-appointed CEO Victoria Kapenda and other officials committed to improving service delivery.
IPC cleans up
The IPC’s clean-up campaign is expected to continue over the weekend.
Organisers say the initiative is a direct response to the town’s ongoing refuse crisis, which has left bins overflowing for weeks and posed serious health risks. Most of the municipal trucks are out of service, and newly-procured vehicles will only arrive in September 2025.
Community members allege the breakdown in services is part of deliberate political sabotage aimed at discrediting the IPC-led council.
“The streets are flooded with rubbish, and people are tired. If the system is failing, we must step in,” one organiser said.
Volunteers plan to clean every weekend until the town is restored to its glory days. Some also intend to patch up pothole-ridden roads worsened by recent rains.
“We thank the businesspeople who came on board with trucks and equipment. Their support made this possible,” a participant said on Sunday. The group called for political interference to end, and urged council officials to let technocrats do their jobs and restore essential services to the residents.
Currently, council is ran by councillors Forbes and Saara Mutondoka, along with Leroy Victor and Olivia Andrews. SWAPO councillors include Ephraim Shozi, Albertina Nkoshi and Paulus Kauhondamwa. Other members include Richard Hoaeb from the PDM, Ronald “Buddy” Bramwell from JWRA, and Ryan Gordon from the LPM.
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