Concerns mount as City struggles to keep pace with rapid growth
At a recent event aimed at informing stakeholders and the public about the City of Windhoek's strategic plans and annual performance, alarming statistics underscored the City's struggle to meet the needs of its rapidly expanding population.According to the Council's annual performance report for the financial year 2022-23, the City fell significantly short of its construction targets, managing to complete only eight out of the planned 60 houses. This shortfall comes amidst a population surge that has seen Windhoek grow exponentially in recent years. Cirrus Capital estimates that approximately 486 000 people now call Windhoek home, a figure that highlights the city's status as a magnet for internal migration.
Speaking at the event, City CEO Moses Matyayi highlighted the daunting challenge posed by this rapid growth. "In terms of the nation, we have statistically been growing at a rate of 1.6%, but as a region, we have been growing at 6% since independence," Matyayi explained. "The urban centre has been growing at a rate of 3.4%. Our growth surpasses the national average, driven by a steady influx of people relocating primarily from Northern Namibia."
Matyayi emphasised that this influx places immense pressure on the city's infrastructure. "Approximately 12 000 residents move to Windhoek annually, exacerbating demands for essential services such as land, roads, and infrastructure," he stated. "Meeting this demand means we should ideally be scaling our service delivery by 12 000-fold. It's a monumental challenge for our infrastructure."
The report revealed significant shortcomings in service delivery targets. Of 706 erven slated for servicing, only 88 were completed last year. However, there were notable achievements in the informal settlement housing sector, where the City managed to construct 240 out of a targeted 300 houses under the affordable housing program supported by the Ministry of Urban and Rural Development.
Despite these efforts, over 30% of Windhoek's residents still live in informal settlements, reflecting ongoing challenges in providing adequate housing and services to all residents. Financially, the City reported revenue of N$5 billion for the last financial year, with 88 000 billing residents contributing to this substantial income stream.
In addition to property taxes and other fees, the City generates revenue from essential services such as water and electricity. The sale of water alone accounts for 11% of the City's revenue, while electricity sales contribute significantly, making up 38% of total revenue.