New city councillors vow to champion housing for the masses
The City of Windhoek's new councillors are adamant that they will implement initiatives to improve the lives of the city's residents.
Windhoek's newly sworn-in city councillors have pledged to tackle Namibia's housing crisis head-on, vowing to prioritise the needs of the working class and historically neglected communities.
This follows a bold announcement by Khomas governor Sam Nujoma last Friday, in which he pledged to construct 5 000 houses in the Khomas Region within the next 12 months as part of a national effort to formalise informal settlements.
Addressing the country's housing woes during his first public statement as councillor yesterday, Affirmative Repositioning's Maitjituavi Kavetu committed to upholding justice and implementing plans during his tenure.
"We speak for the poor working class who still don't have housing... the police officers, the soldiers and the residents of the neighbourhood," Kavetu said.
"Some of those cancelled resolutions passed over the past three years, such as the pre-application of housing must be implemented. Failing to do so is a betrayal of the voices of the masses."
His comments reflect widespread frustration over unmet housing promises, alongside scepticism about whether the 5 000-housing target is realistic.
According to 2023 data, nearly half (47%) of Khomas households – totalling over 230 000 people – live in shacks.
Swapo councillor Matheus Amakali Shoongo also strongly committed to service delivery and cross-party collaboration.
"We picked up that people are struggling... Let us save the people," Shoongo urged fellow councillors. "The resolutions were passed. Please, let us implement them." He stressed the importance of unity: "I'm looking forward to working as a team with members from various political parties. We are here to serve the people."