Political egos stall Windhoek city leadership: Residents left waiting

Politicians have blamed egos and selfishness for the Windhoek Municipal Council’s failure to elect a leadership body.

In 2023, urban and rural development minister Erastus Uutoni was on the verge of dissolving the council after its failure to elect a mayor, deputy mayor, management committee and chairperson.

Currently, no council or management committee can be established until new leadership is in place.

Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) secretary general Manuel Ngaringombe yesterday blamed egos for the council’s leadership vacuum.

“I believe ego and concentrating on party position rather than the well-being of residents is effecting service delivery in the City of Windhoek,” he said. Affirmative Repositioning and Landless People’s Movement (LPM) councillors, Job Amupanda and Ivan Skrywer, jumped in to assist Swapo, along with National Unity Democratic Organisation’s (Nudo) Joseph Uapingene, to constitute the management committee.

Uapingene was mayor in 2023 when he worked with Swapo.

In addition, Independent Patriots for Change councillor Bernardus Araeb went against his party’s instruction not to participate to occupy the last seat on the management committee.

In December, councillors walked out of a meeting chaired by magistrate Immanuel Udjombala following his refusal to grant the councillors a recess. He advised Windhoek residents, as well as regional and local authorities in general, to stop voting for representatives along tribal lines but rather the credibility of elected candidates and their respective parties.

Nudo secretary general Joseph Kauandenge yesterday echoed Ngaringombe’s sentiments, also blaming egos and selfishness for the council’s current predicament.

“It’s time that the Windhoek city councillors do away with their selfishness and inflated egos,” he said.

“Windhoek residents are crying for service provision. They must get back to that noble idea of serving the electorate.”

Kauandenge expressed regret that most of Windhoek’s councillors continue to put their own interests above those of residents by fighting over positions rather than matters of service delivery.

LPM councillor Sade Gawanas yesterday told The Namibian the party will actively participate in the upcoming elections.

“I will be nominating a councillor as part of the process,” she said.

Gawanas noted that service delivery to residents continues uninterrupted despite the lack of leadership in place.

“The City’s administrators remain fully operational, ensuring that the needs of our residents are met. While the council has yet to nominate office bearers, this does not affect the ongoing delivery of essential services to our community,” she said.

Former mayor and Swapo councillor Fransina Kahungu in December told The Namibian five Swapo councillors were at the mercy of their fellow councillors in terms of becoming members of the management committee and serving as deputy mayor and mayor.

“It is time for us to respect and appreciate cooperation and assistance within the Windhoek Municipal Council,” she said.
Kahungu’s fellow party councillor Sam Nujoma said other Swapo councillors are ready and willing to elect a mayor, deputy mayor and a management committee.

“I, unfortunately, cannot comment on any of the other parties, as they have their own leadership. You would have to ask them,” Nujoma said when asked about the walkout.

Political analyst Erika Thomas yesterday said the leadership vacuum raises some questions about the council’s commitment to put the city council and governance ahead of political differences or interests.

“This delay in decision-making may impede the functioning of the municipality and its ability actually to address pressing issues affecting residents,” she said.