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March 2026
The Namibian
Lydia Amutenyadisclosedresidents owe City of Windhoek more than N$800 million in municipal debt
Source
“This was disclosed by City of Windhoek spokesperson Lydia Amutenya during a recent interview with Nampa regarding city operations, service delivery and financial affairs.”
City of Windhoek spokesperson Lydia Amutenyaconfirmedone building at head office experiencing water supply interruption due to underground pipe leaks
Source
“City of Windhoek spokesperson Lydia Amutenya yesterday confirmed that one of the buildings at the head office is currently experiencing a water supply interruption due to underground pipe leaks that were detected on the premises.”
Amutenyasaidportion of old Town House building remains without water and repair team is working urgently to resolve
Source
“However, Amutenya, said a portion of the old Town House building remains without water, and that the repair team is currently on site working to resolve the matter urgently.”
Lydia Amutenyadid not respondby the time of publication
Source
“Despite sending a team to attend to the matter, the City of Windhoek has not provided comment on how regularly worn pipes are replaced, with the municipality's spokesperson, Lydia Amutenya, not responding by the time of publication.”
City of Windhoek spokesperson Lydia Amutenyasaysdepartment will replace the bridge railings.
Source
“City of Windhoek spokesperson Lydia Amutenya says the department responsible for fixing the bridge has assessed the area and will replace the bridge railings.”
Lydia Amutenyasays the city collaborates withrelevant authorities where baboons are identified as problematic
Source
“However, in the absence of an adopted policy, Amutenya says the city collaborates with relevant authorities where baboons are identified as problematic, especially when human life may be at risk.”
Lydia Amutenyasaidthey have been alerted to incidents in which scammers contact residents threatening to suspend or disconnect municipal services unless immediate payments are made via e-wallets or other mobile money platforms
Source
“Lydia Amutenya, spokesperson for the CoW, said they have been alerted to incidents in which scammers contact residents, threatening to suspend or disconnect municipal services unless immediate payments are made via e-wallets or other mobile money platforms.”
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.
Why it matters
Water safety and infrastructure crisis affecting Windhoek residents remains a critical public service accountability story.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
The City of Windhoek is expanding its water reclamation capacity through a second Direct Potable Reclamation Plant (DPR2) to secure long-term water supply amid rising demand, climate uncertainty and increasing infrastructure costs. The facility will be implemented in phases, starting at 10 megalitres per day and expanding to 20 megalitres, increasing current reclamation capacity by 50% in phase one and another 50% in phase two.
The City of Windhoek is implementing a capacity development programme for councillors, established under Council Resolution 182/08/2021, that includes academic studies, workshops, benchmarking exercises and site visits to strengthen leadership and decision-making. The programme is designed to equip council members with skills to respond to residents' needs and improve accountability and service delivery.
Hundreds of illegal street vendors in Windhoek's CBD face regular evictions by municipal police, but continue trading because formal markets do not generate sufficient income. The city says it is developing structured trading venues as part of a long-term strategy, while vendors and lawmakers call for legal recognition, proper infrastructure, and compensation for confiscated goods.
Central Katutura experienced a water outage this morning due to a pipe burst that forced the City of Windhoek to temporarily isolate supply for repairs. Water supply is being restored and expected to normalise within three hours.
A 15-member family in Havana informal settlement faces demolition of a partially-built house they invested N$500,000 in, after the City of Windhoek says it was constructed without proper municipal approval. The family claims they believed they could build after the land was demarcated in October, but the municipality says demarcation does not constitute a permit, and calls on them to demolish the illegal structure.
The City of Windhoek, which records approximately 960 burials annually, says five of its seven cemeteries are at full capacity and is urging residents to consider cremation as an alternative. The municipality is exploring measures including second interments and developing a new cemetery at Rocky Crest, though some residents and cultural groups have raised concerns about land allocation and religious objections to cremation.
The City of Windhoek has announced road upgrade and decongestion works along Eneas Peter Nanyemba Road in Katutura, including speed hump installations on multiple streets from March to April to improve road safety and slow down traffic.
Residents of Windhoek have accumulated more than N$800 million in unpaid water, electricity, rates and taxes accounts, with arrears stretching up to 120 days. The City of Windhoek is pursuing debt collection measures and has implemented a write-off strategy, having processed approximately N$380 million in approved write-offs for pensioners and eligible households.
Underground pipe leaks at City of Windhoek headquarters have left one building without water supply since last week, forcing staff to use mobile toilets. The city confirmed initial repairs were completed on 16 February, but a further leak was identified; partial water supply has been restored while repairs continue on portions of the building.
Criminals posing as taxi drivers are exploiting peak-hour congestion in Windhoek to rob commuters, prompting intensified joint operations by City Police and NamPol. Authorities urge commuters to use an official taxi verification app before boarding and report suspicious vehicles.
A burst pipe in Donkerhoek, Windhoek damaged four homes early Saturday morning, with residents saying the City of Windhoek's response was untimely. Residents reported damaged household contents and expressed concerns about infrastructure maintenance, with one noting this is the third pipe burst in the area.
Windhoek's new strictly cashless parking system, implemented by private company KeyPlot Investment on behalf of the City of Windhoek, has drawn complaints from motorists over high transaction fees, inaccessibility for those without bank cards, and confusion—while parking attendants report reduced compliance and increased tension. KPI justified the move as necessary to address missing cash payments and theft under the previous system.
Residents of Grysblok in Windhoek have raised alarm over a bridge whose railings collapsed nearly a year ago, creating a gap that forces pedestrians and schoolchildren to walk dangerously close to traffic. The City of Windhoek spokesperson says the department has assessed the area and will replace the railings; residents also cite inadequate street lighting and rising theft as additional safety concerns.
The Ministry of Environment and Tourism has linked baboon attacks on Goreangab residents to poor waste management and urged proper disposal of waste, after failed attempts to scare the animals away. The City of Windhoek acknowledged the recurring incidents and said it lacks a comprehensive policy on human-wildlife conflict, but is investigating the provision of waste management facilities in the affected area.
The City of Windhoek has cautioned residents against scammers posing as council officials who threaten to disconnect utilities unless residents pay via e-wallets or in person. The warning follows a case in which a 75-year-old woman lost N$30,990.60 to a scammer claiming to represent the municipality.
The City of Windhoek has announced that water supply to Northern Industrial and Katutura will be restored gradually throughout the day following a nearly two-day outage caused by a damaged 600 mm bulk water pipeline. The pipeline was repaired Wednesday night, but reservoir levels remain low and require time to stabilise before full supply is restored.