Key points drawn from coverage. Tap a point to see the original sentence.
Windhoek Observer
City spokesperson Lydia Amutenya said the area is not intended for permanent residential occupation and must be restored to original condition upon project completion
“"The City's position remains that the area is not intended for permanent residential occupation and must be restored to its original condition upon completion of the project and expiry of the lease agreement," she said.”
‘Politicians only come to us when they need votes’ …CoW says settlement will not be formalised as residents demand water and basic services.New Era
Lydia Amutenya said the municipality viewed the incident with concern and acknowledged the distress caused
“City section head of corporate communications Lydia Amutenya said the municipality viewed the incident with concern and acknowledged the distress caused to the affected family and the broader community.”
City admits security gap after grave vandalismThe Namibian
Lydia Amutenya announced the citywide streetlight survey on Saturday
“This was announced on Saturday by city spokesperson Lydia Amutenya in a statement.”
Windhoek launches N$12-million streetlight mapping projectThe Namibian
Lydia Amutenya says the city is recruiting 34 fixed-term technical staff members
“To support the project, Amutenya says the city is recruiting 34 fixed-term technical staff members, with 30 already appointed and trained.”
Windhoek launches N$12-million streetlight mapping projectWindhoek Observer
City's spokesperson Lydia Amutenya said allegations that the CEO's Office instructed officials to stop issuing new permits were incorrect allegations that CEO's Office instructed stop of new permits
“Responding to questions from the Windhoek Observer on Wednesday, the City's spokesperson Lydia Amutenya said the allegations that the CEO's Office instructed officials to stop issuing new permits were incorrect.”
CoW denies halting informal trade in Dorado ParkWindhoek Observer
City of Windhoek spokesperson Lydia Amutenya explained that operation forms part of City Police's daily operations and enforcement against illegal trading
“At the time, City of Windhoek spokesperson Lydia Amutenya explained that the operation forms part of the City Police's daily operations and ongoing enforcement efforts against illegal trading activities across the city.”
Windhoek councillor questions suspension of Dorado Park informal tradeNew Era
Lydia Amutenya said the reduction represents a significant improvement in debt recovery efforts
“According to City of Windhoek spokesperson Lydia Amutenya, the reduction represents a significant improvement in the municipality's debt recovery efforts.”
Govt institutions now owe less to CityThe Namibian
City of Windhoek spokesperson Lydia Amutenya said the municipality is working with partners including National Housing Enterprise and Shack Dwellers Federation of Namibia
“Amutenya says land servicing projects in Cimbebasia, Otjomuise, Khomasdal, Goreangab and Havana are expected to start in October, with about 1200 plots earmarked for servicing.”
Young professionals bemoan Windhoek’s high rentThe Namibian
City spokesperson Lydia Amutenya said municipality is studying judgement and considering next steps
“City spokesperson Lydia Amutenya on Monday said the municipality is studying the judgement and considering its next steps.”
City seeks law changes to keep fibre dream aliveThe Namibian
City of Windhoek spokesperson Lydia Amutenya said areas are characterised by steep slope and are undevelopable
“"The areas are characterised by a steep slope and have an average gradient of about 1:5, making it undevelopable.”
Waiting 33 years for garbage collectionThe City of Windhoek is launching a new permit system for heavy vehicles over nine tonnes entering the city from 1 September, requiring operators to obtain permits for delivery or authorised purposes and restricting unpermitted vehicles to industrial areas. The city says the system is needed to reduce congestion and road damage caused by rising heavy vehicle traffic.
1 September 2026 · The Namibian →
The City of Windhoek is launching a new permit system for heavy vehicles over nine tonnes entering the city from 1 September, requiring operators to obtain permits for delivery or authorised purposes and restricting unpermitted vehicles to industrial areas. The city says the system is needed to reduce congestion and road damage caused by rising heavy vehicle traffic.
1 September 2026 · The Namibian →
Windhoek city councillors have raised concerns over CEO Moses Matyayi's foreign trips, including an alleged N$300 000 spent on a trip to Harvard University, and are calling for removal of council resolutions that allow him to travel internationally without prior council approval. Matyayi has rejected the allegations as "speculative and unsupported by evidence" and calls the complaints a "clandestine witch-hunt."
24 August 2026 · The Namibian →
A veld fire in the Ongos area has affected approximately 4,700 hectares of land, according to preliminary data from the directorate of forestry. City of Windhoek firefighters have resumed containment efforts after winds forced suspension of operations, with remaining activity limited to contained interior fires and monitoring ongoing in affected areas.
13 August 2026 · The Namibian →
The contractor for the N$381-million Eneas Peter Nanyemba Road has blamed heavy traffic and a "live site" with ongoing construction activities for road deterioration that began before completion. The contractor said it has investigated the causes and submitted repair solutions to authorities for approval.
12 August 2026 · The Namibian →
A fire broke out on the mountain near Daan Viljoen Game Reserve in Windhoek, with strong south-westerly winds pushing flames toward the reserve. Firefighting operations were suspended overnight due to unsafe conditions but resumed the following morning, with initial assessment indicating the fire remains in mountain terrain and is not currently threatening any properties.
12 August 2026 · Informanté →
The City of Windhoek has summoned about 50 people to vacate land earmarked for a new community market to complete the Havana four-way road and intersection; residents object, saying the city has not provided promised services including water and electricity at their allocated relocation sites.
10 August 2026 · The Namibian →
The 6.1-kilometre Eneas Peter Nanyemba Road in Windhoek, which cost N$381 million, has begun to deteriorate before being handed over to the City of Windhoek. The City said responsibility for repairs remains with the developer and project engineer, who are investigating the defects.
3 August 2026 · The Namibian →
Many residents of Windhoek's informal settlements rely on communal water points for daily needs, while elderly residents find the task increasingly difficult. The municipality has uncovered alleged tampering with prepaid water cards, which residents say places an unfair burden on those paying for water while others bypass the system.
3 August 2026 · New Era →
The Road Fund Administrator has allocated N$439 million towards road maintenance, infrastructure improvements and traffic law enforcement in Windhoek, funding projects including upgrades to Peter Nanyemba Road (N$65m), Auas Road widening (N$89m), and Winnie Madikizela Mandela upgrade (N$179.2m). The RFA CEO noted that while this funding supports local authority road maintenance programmes, local authorities retain primary responsibility for road infrastructure under the Local Authority Act.
24 July 2026 · New Era →
Residents of Baboon City, an informal settlement in Windhoek, say they have been neglected by political leaders after elections and lack access to clean water and basic services. The City of Windhoek maintains the area is not a recognised settlement and has no plans to formalise it or provide municipal services.
23 July 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
The Hospitality Association of Namibia says tourists find Windhoek lacks sufficient attractions and events, with feedback that museums and historical buildings are not properly promoted. While the city serves as a gateway to Namibia's tourism destinations, urban tourism remains limited to historic landmarks and township experiences.
21 July 2026 · The Namibian →
The City of Windhoek has acknowledged that dedicated municipal security services have not yet been deployed at Groot Aub Cemetery following the vandalism of Joseph Willem Modise's grave. The cemetery remains in a transitional phase after its incorporation into the City and has not yet been fully integrated into formal cemetery operations.
21 July 2026 · New Era →
The City of Windhoek has begun a 28-month project to digitally map and inspect over 17,000 municipal streetlight poles to improve public safety, reduce maintenance delays, and modernise infrastructure management.
19 July 2026 · The Namibian →
The City of Windhoek has denied allegations that its CEO's office instructed officials to stop issuing new informal trading permits, saying applications continue to be processed under existing regulations. The denial follows complaints from traders and residents in Dorado Park about City Police preventing informal traders from operating and the City refusing to issue trading letters.
16 July 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
Windhoek Municipality councillor Maitjituavi Kavetu has requested information from City management about the suspension of trading letters and increased enforcement against informal traders in Dorado Park, citing governance and public interest concerns following complaints from residents and traders claiming City Police prevented them from operating.
14 July 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
Outstanding municipal debt owed by government institutions to the City of Windhoek fell from approximately N$67 million in May to N$27 million in June, a 60% decline attributed to government's crackdown on unpaid accounts. The City's overall debtors' book also improved over the same period, declining from N$912 million in May to N$845 million in June.
9 July 2026 · New Era →
Young professionals in Windhoek report that rising rental costs make independent living increasingly unaffordable despite employment, with tenants facing high prices, outdated units, and restrictive lease conditions that consume large portions of their salaries.
6 July 2026 · The Namibian →
The City of Windhoek says it may seek legislative amendments to the Local Authorities Act after the Supreme Court ruled the municipality lacks legal authority to provide telecommunications services. The city views fibre commercialisation as essential to its smart city ambitions.
25 June 2026 · The Namibian →
Epandulo, an informal settlement in Windhoek's Moses //Garoeb constituency with nearly 1,500 residents, has lacked garbage collection, toilets, and adequate water access for 33 years, creating a sanitation crisis that residents say is causing health problems in children.
23 June 2026 · The Namibian →
The Windhoek municipality disconnected water to the Ministry of Works and Transport's head office over an unpaid utility bill of N$9.66 million; the water was restored yesterday after four days without supply and the minister instructed officials to settle the debt and investigate how it accumulated.
16 June 2026 · The Namibian →
The City of Windhoek has disclosed that brown discoloration in tap water results from sand mixing with water when pipes burst or corrode, and from residue stirred up by low reservoir levels following damage to the Von Bach pipeline. The disclosures came during a media tour of the water treatment plant, held after a body was discovered in a water treatment machine and residents raised safety concerns.
26 May 2026 · The Namibian →
The City of Windhoek attributed recent water discolouration to pipeline damage between the Von Bach Water Treatment Plant and Windhoek that interrupted NamWater supply. The reduced inflow lowered reservoir levels, disturbing sediment and causing brown-coloured water in areas including Katutura and Okuryangava, though the city said the issue is aesthetic and does not affect water safety.
25 May 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
A body was discovered at Windhoek's Gammams Water Care Works facility on Sunday, prompting the Residents and Ratepayers Association to demand laboratory results on tap water safety. The Windhoek Municipality has assured the public that the city's water is safe, noting the body was found at the initial screening stage of the treatment process.
20 May 2026 · The Namibian →
The City of Windhoek has agreed to stop the planned demolition of an N$500 000 unapproved home at Max Mutongolume informal settlement in Havana, following negotiations with the family that owns it. The family of 15, who have lived in the area for 18 years, requested relief from compliance directives and the city agreed to review the house for possible regularisation.
20 May 2026 · The Namibian →
The City of Windhoek has resolved a case involving an unapproved house in Havana Informal Settlement after the homeowner requested that compliance conditions be relaxed. Under the agreement, the owner committed to residential use with limited charitable activities, and must complete specific remaining works while accepting liability for occupying the unapproved structure.
20 May 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
The Windhoek Municipality said municipal water remains safe for drinking after a body was found in a machine at the Gammams Water Care Works facility on Sunday. A city spokesperson stated the machines where the body was found are only used to separate waste from water, and water undergoes proper treatment.
19 May 2026 · The Namibian →
The City of Windhoek has resolved a dispute over a house built without municipal approval in Havana Informal Settlement by revising compliance conditions after the homeowner's request. The owner committed by sworn affidavit to use the structure primarily for residential purposes with limited charitable activities, and may complete specified works including corrugated iron sheets, window glass, and floor and wall smoothing.
19 May 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
An unidentified male body was discovered inside a machine at the City of Windhoek's Gammams Water Care Works facility on Sunday. A security officer on patrol found the body and alerted officials; the scene has been secured and handed to the Namibian Police for investigation.
18 May 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
An unidentified male body was discovered inside a machine at the City of Windhoek's Gammams Water Care Works facility on Sunday, 17 May 2026. The incident has been handed over to the Namibian Police for investigation.
18 May 2026 · Informanté →
The City of Windhoek has approved four township development projects aimed at formalising informal settlements and delivering more than 1 400 housing units to accommodate an estimated 4 866 people in Otjomuise and Hadino Hishongwa.
11 May 2026 · The Namibian →