Chief executive of the City of Windhoek, at centre of councillor disputes over foreign travel expenses.
Key points drawn from coverage. Tap a point to see the original sentence.
New Era
Moses Matyayi raised alarm over increasing political interference in local authorities
“President of the Namibia Association of Local Authority Officials, Moses Matyayi, has raised alarm over increasing political interference in local authorities, warning that it is destabilising municipal governance and weakening service delivery.”
Political interference undermines LAs – MatyayiNew Era
Matyayi said officials are facing mounting pressure through arbitrary suspensions, dismissals, and undue external influence
“Matyayi said officials are facing mounting pressure through what he described as arbitrary suspensions, dismissals, and undue external influence across several local authorities.”
Political interference undermines LAs – MatyayiThe Namibian
Moses Matyayi described the surge as the largest population shift in the country's recent history
“Matyayi described the surge as the largest population shift in the country's recent history.”
Urban population surge leaves local authorities reelingThe Namibian
Namibia Association of Local Authorities president Moses Matyayi spoke out against the castigation of local authority chief executive officers
“Namibia Association of Local Authorities president Moses Matyayi yesterday spoke out against the "castigation" of local authority chief executive officers (CEOs) and officials.”
‘Sankwasa forced town council to suspend me’The Namibian
Moses Matyayi called for local authority officials to be held accountable in fair, transparent manner free from intimidation
“Association for Local Authorities in Namibia (Nalao) president Moses Matyayi has called for local authority officials to be held accountable in a fair and transparent manner, free from intimidation and political interference.”
Local authorities officials must be held accountable without intimidation – MatyayiThe Namibian
Chief executive Moses Matyayi was set to be paid salary of N$3.3 million a year
“In 2023, state-owned newspaper New Era reported that the city was set to pay chief executive Moses Matyayi a salary of N$3.3million a year (N$300 000 a month).”
From Strangers to Neighbours?Informanté
Moses Matyayi said Windhoek currently has 150 informal settlements
“Matyayi said that Windhoek currently has the highest number of informal settlements, with a total of 150 settlements recorded.”
Windhoek’s 150 informal settlements spiral amid land and funding shortagesInformanté
Moses Matyayi stated over 200,000 of 500,000 inhabitants live in undocumented informal settlements
“He added that the capital has about 500 000 inhabitants and that, of this, more than 200 000 inhabitants live in informal settlements, which he said are not documented.”
Windhoek’s 150 informal settlements spiral amid land and funding shortagesThe Namibian
Moses Matyayi said it would be easier if Roads Fund Administration funded road maintenance or city received dedicated RFA funds
“City chief executive Moses Matyayi says it would be easier if it were the responsibility of the Roads Fund Administration (RFA), which funds road maintenance for national roads, or if the city received funds from the RFA dedicated to fixing roads.”
35 years of poor road maintenanceThe Namibian
Moses Matyayi says N$2.5 million cannot make sufficient dent in damage repairs
“"N$2.5 million is quite a good number, but unfortunately it's not a good enough number that can convince anyone to make a dent."”
Pothole CountrySocial activists Shaun Gariseb and Michael Amushelelo have called on the City of Windhoek to account for its delivery of serviced land and public services, citing a housing backlog of approximately 60,000 units and demanding measurable results rather than further plans, with serviced land delivery to be treated as an emergency municipal priority.
18 September 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
Social activists Shaun Gariseb and Michael Amushelelo have called on the City of Windhoek to account for its delivery of serviced land and public services, citing a housing backlog of approximately 60,000 units and demanding measurable results rather than further plans, with serviced land delivery to be treated as an emergency municipal priority.
18 September 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
Three City of Windhoek councillors have apologised to chief executive Moses Matyayi and withdrawn allegations they made about his official foreign travels, acknowledging the claims were made without adequate verification.
11 September 2026 · The Namibian →
City of Windhoek chief executive Moses Matyayi is demanding public apologies from three councillors over what he describes as false and defamatory allegations concerning his conduct, and has threatened a N$1.5 million lawsuit.
7 September 2026 · Namibian Sun →
Street vendors at Dorado Valley were relocated by the City of Windhoek following confiscation of their stock in July, including produce that was returned in rotten condition. Vendors report severe financial losses at the new site due to low customer traffic and limited prospects for selling fresh fruits and vegetables.
3 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 →
Namibia Protection Services says 534 security guards face possible job losses when its contract with the City of Windhoek ends on 31 August. The company has asked the justice and labour minister to intervene and requested the municipality consider incorporating the guards into a new service provider, though the city says employment decisions are NPS's responsibility.
10 August 2026 · The Namibian →
The City of Windhoek has declined to renew its security services contract with Namibia Protection Services (NPS), leaving nearly 540 guards facing retrenchment by month end. NPS, a Swapo-linked company, appealed to the City to renew the arrangement, but the City maintained the contract was temporary and has concluded.
10 August 2026 · New Era →
The City of Windhoek is participating in the 5th International Transport Summit in Moscow, Russia, which brings together more than 140 delegates from 43 cities to discuss solutions to urban congestion, population growth, and sustainable mobility systems. The city said the summit provides an opportunity to learn global best practices and develop a modern, efficient transport system for Windhoek.
7 August 2026 · Informanté →
The City of Windhoek has warned that rapid urbanisation is placing pressure on city infrastructure, with an estimated N$15.4 billion required to rehabilitate ageing roads based on a 2023 assessment, and a further N$600 million needed to replace ageing water infrastructure. Officials told the Prime Minister that inadequate maintenance funding has contributed to the deteriorating condition of the city's roads.
30 July 2026 · Informanté →
Prime Minister Elijah Ngurare has called on the Windhoek Municipality to rethink its strategies to accelerate housing development, improve access to basic services, and speed up land allocation. He emphasized the need for practical, efficient solutions to eliminate administrative delays and highlighted labour-intensive initiatives like land servicing and urban agriculture to create employment and support sustainable development, against a backdrop of a national housing backlog exceeding 300,000 units.
29 July 2026 · New Era →
Namibians report that expenses are rising faster than wages, forcing many to rely on side hustles and cash loans to survive. The squeeze is intensifying as electricity and municipal tariffs increase while workers' salaries remain stagnant.
27 July 2026 · The Namibian →
The City of Windhoek met with representatives of 104 informal traders at Chinatown to discuss a decision to vacate the area over safety and hygiene concerns. The traders requested permission to continue operations while registering for formal relocation to designated markets, with the City expected to respond in writing on Friday.
23 July 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
The City of Windhoek says it will continue enforcing by-laws against more than 100 informal traders at Chinatown following a peaceful march, citing safety, hygiene, and compliance concerns. Traders, led by activists Michael Amushelelo and Shaun Gariseb, are demanding designated land to operate rather than relocating to formal markets like Bonsmara, arguing they would lose customer access.
23 July 2026 · The Namibian →
The City of Windhoek is accelerating its electrification programme to connect 1,298 households across 12 informal settlements to the electricity grid as part of efforts to improve living conditions and expand access to basic municipal services. The project covers four constituencies, with Mix Extension 1 recording the highest number of households ready for connection at 267 homes.
19 July 2026 · Informanté →
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 →
Residents of Groot Aub Extension 2 have called on the City of Windhoek to suspend a planned lease agreement process for surveyed residential plots, citing inadequate consultation and concerns that financial obligations may be unaffordable. Community activists and the Baster traditional leadership have urged the municipality to delay the process pending further discussions.
14 July 2026 · The Namibian →
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 →
The City of Windhoek's electrification programme, launched in April, is targeting 1,298 households across informal settlements. The Mix Settlement project, which will connect 267 households, is about 80% complete with a development valued at over N$6 million including overhead power lines and street lighting.
13 July 2026 · The Namibian →
The City of Windhoek has submitted five Environmental Clearance Certificate applications to begin formalising informal settlements, with the first phase expected to create about 3,587 residential erven across five planning areas. The initiative could ultimately create more than 11,000 residential erven and provide secure land tenure and municipal infrastructure to residents currently living without them.
6 July 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
The City of Windhoek has approved new dog control regulations requiring mandatory registration and licensing, with annual fees ranging from N$50 for sterilised dogs to N$2,000 for large-scale breeders, alongside stricter leash requirements and measures to manage stray and dangerous dogs.
5 July 2026 · The Namibian →
The acting CEO of Omaruru municipality, who was appointed following the suspension of the substantive CEO over financial irregularities, was found in the office on a Saturday with an accountant. The mayor said the council is looking to replace him in his acting role, citing concerns over governance at the local authority.
19 June 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
The Namibia Association of Local Authority Officials has raised concerns that the suspension of Omaruru municipality CEO Valentinus Sindongo may violate fair labour practices and due process, warning that procedurally flawed disciplinary measures undermine good governance and public confidence in local authorities.
6 June 2026 · The Namibian →
The City of Windhoek has inaugurated the Windhoek Solar Centre, a knowledge hub offering consultations, training, and guidance on solar energy solutions with a focus on improving access to communities without electricity. The facility, funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development at approximately N$4.3 million, was jointly opened by Berlin State Secretary Michael Biel and Windhoek Mayor Sakarias Uunona as part of a partnership between the two cities established in 2000.
5 May 2026 · Informanté →
The president of the Namibia Association of Local Authority Officials has warned that political interference in local authorities is threatening municipal governance through arbitrary suspensions, dismissals, and external pressure on officials. He said these practices undermine institutional stability, professional administration, and investor confidence in towns and cities.
17 April 2026 · New Era →
Over half of Namibia's 1.5 million urban residents are straining municipal capacity to deliver housing, infrastructure, and services, with informal settlements housing over 40% of residents in some towns. Officials have called for improved governance, accountability, and collaboration between councils and municipal staff to manage urbanisation effectively.
17 April 2026 · The Namibian →
Suspended Katima Mulilo Town Council chief executive Raphael Liswaniso, who won a labour case against his first suspension on 28 October, was suspended a second time on Monday. Liswaniso and his lawyer argue that minister of urban and rural development James Sankwasa forced the council into the latest suspension through a directive letter marked urgent, while a local authorities president raises concerns about the arbitrary suspension of CEOs under political pressure.
16 April 2026 · The Namibian →
Nalao president Moses Matyayi has called for local authority officials to be held accountable through fair, transparent processes based on due process and key performance areas, while protecting professional independence from political interference. He noted ongoing financial challenges in local authorities and difficulties retaining skilled professionals, urging stakeholders to address root causes rather than symptoms.
15 April 2026 · The Namibian →
The City of Windhoek's plan to build apartments instead of freestanding houses is pragmatic given land and funding constraints, but developers risk sacrificing community spaces and livability. The editorial warns that apartment living requires planning for recreation areas and social infrastructure, drawing lessons from Singapore's approach, and calls on the municipality to address internal corruption and executive salaries before expanding housing.
7 April 2026 · The Namibian →
The City of Windhoek says it needs about N$1 billion annually to formalise informal settlements but receives only N$53 million this financial year, while the capital hosts 150 informal settlements where more than 200 000 people live undocumented. The city's CEO and housing engineer attribute the crisis to funding shortages, lack of available land, and the fact that informal residents cannot be charged rates and taxes, leaving fewer than 60 000 documented residents to fund the N$5 billion municipal budget.
31 March 2026 · Informanté →
The City of Windhoek has suffered inadequate road maintenance for 35 years, with recent rains exposing damage valued at N$353 million. The city says proper annual road maintenance would cost N$384 million, while proper rehabilitation requires about N$1 billion, and officials cite budget constraints and insufficient funding from the Roads Fund Administration.
30 March 2026 · The Namibian →