Tuesday, 6 October 2026

Namibia’s news, on the hour · Est. 2026

Tuesday, 6 October 2026

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Namibian press · Organization

Municipality of Walvis Bay

Also known as: the Municipality

Walvis Bay Municipality — local authority managing infrastructure, housing, and services in the coastal town, currently addressing road rehabilitation, informal trader regulations, and a disputed debt collection contract.

2023-09-262026-10-06

What’s been said

Key points drawn from coverage. Tap a point to see the original sentence.

June 2026
18 JunThe Namibian
Municipality of Walvis Bay warned that joint cleanup operation with law enforcement will begin to remove non-compliant traders
Source
“It warned that a joint cleanup operation with law enforcement will begin tomorrow to remove traders who do not comply.”
Walvis Bay vendors face eviction from CBD
18 JunWindhoek Observer
Municipality of Walvis Bay ordered informal traders in CBD to cease operations and vacate by Wednesday
Source
“The Municipality of Walvis Bay has ordered all informal traders operating within the town's Central Business District to cease operations and vacate the area by Wednesday, warning that non-compliant traders will face a joint cleanup operation with law enforcement starting on Friday.”
OBSERVER COASTAL | Walvis Bay orders informal traders in CBD to vacate
18 JunWindhoek Observer
Municipality of Walvis Bay stated it values and supports informal trading as essential part of local economy
Source
“The municipality has stated it values and supports informal trading as an essential part of the local economy and a contributor to livelihoods.”
OBSERVER COASTAL | Walvis Bay orders informal traders in CBD to vacate
12 JunNew Era
Municipality of Walvis Bay cancelled sale of 67 erven with immediate effect
Source
“The Walvis Bay Municipality has cancelled the sale of 67 erven, of which 66 were for residential purposes.”
Walvis cancels 67 plots sale … local authorities told to broaden income streams
May 2026
12 MayNamibian Sun
Municipality of Walvis Bay tabled proposed N$1.6 billion budget for 2026/2027 financial year
Source
“The Walvis Bay municipality tabled its proposed N$1.6 billion budget for the 2026/2027 financial year on Friday, with land development projects receiving the largest allocation.”
Walvis municipality tables N$1.6 billion budget
March 2026
29 MarThe Namibian
Municipality of Walvis Bay has been declared an Authorised Planning Authority (APA)
Source
“The Municipality of Walvis Bay has been declared an Authorised Planning Authority (APA) following approval by the minister of urban and rural development.”
Walvis Bay gets planning powers
29 MarThe Namibian
Municipality of Walvis Bay is expected to reduce delays in processing applications and improve service delivery
Source
“According to the municipality, the APA status is expected to reduce delays in processing applications and improve service delivery by allowing decisions to be made at a local level.”
Walvis Bay gets planning powers
19 MarNew Era
Municipality of Walvis Bay has lacked internal audit for seventeen years
Source
“Seventeen years without an internal audit, gaps in key governance systems, and the absence of a performance management system – the Walvis Bay Municipality is an institution at sixes and sevens.”
Walvis’ shambolic governance
18 MarThe Namibian
Municipality of Walvis Bay announced water interruption for Langstrand and Kuisebmond from 17 to 19 March
Source
“The Walvis Bay municipality has announced that residents and businesses at Langstrand and Kuisebmond will experience a temporary water interruption from 17 to 19 March.”
Langstrand and Kuisebmond to experience three-day water interruption
18 MarThe Namibian
The municipality says interruption is due to supply disruption from Swakopmund supply line
Source
“The municipality in a statement released on Wednesday says the interruption is due to a supply disruption from the Swakopmund supply line, which will affect the water supply for three days.”
Langstrand and Kuisebmond to experience three-day water interruption

Politics

Walvis Bay given September 30 deadline to act on RedForce contract

The News

The Minister of Urban and Rural Development has directed Walvis Bay municipality to act by 30 September on the attorney general's legal opinion regarding its contract with RedForce Debt Management, which he says is flawed because it was not co-signed as required by law. The directive follows a High Court order on 3 September that barred the municipality and RedForce from disconnecting water supply to Wena Investments, which had sued over debt collection fees and disconnections.

28 September 2026 · The Namibian →

Monday 28 September

Walvis Bay given September 30 deadline to act on RedForce contract
The Minister of Urban and Rural Development has directed Walvis Bay municipality to act by 30 September on the attorney general's legal opinion regarding its contract with RedForce Debt Management, which he says is flawed because it was not co-signed as required by law. The directive follows a High Court order on 3 September that barred the municipality and RedForce from disconnecting water supply to Wena Investments, which had sued over debt collection fees and disconnections.
28 September 2026 · The Namibian →
Minister halts Walvis Bay RedForce debt collection contract
Urban and rural development minister James Sankwasa has ordered Walvis Bay Municipality to halt its debt collection agreement with RedForce Debt Management, recover allegedly wasted funds, and investigate the contract's execution. The municipality's management committee chairperson confirmed the agreement is invalid because it was not executed in accordance with the Local Authorities Act — it was signed by technocrats rather than the required chief executive officer and management committee chairperson.
28 September 2026 · Windhoek Observer →

Thursday 17 September

High Court orders Walvis Bay Municipality to pay legal costs
The High Court has ordered Walvis Bay Municipality to pay WENA Investments CC's legal costs after the company challenged the municipality's disconnection of water supply to its property over a municipal debt allegedly belonging to another person, Mr van Rensburg. The court confirmed an order preventing disconnection and prohibited the municipality from allocating amounts owed under the disputed account to WENA.
17 September 2026 · Informanté →

Wednesday 19 August

Namibia's consul denies million-dollar Dangote facilitation fee
Namibia's Honorary Consul in Nigeria, Justin Chuma Anosike, has denied allegations that he charged Nigerian billionaire Aliko Dangote US$1 million for arranging a meeting with President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah. The denial comes amid separate allegations that confidential Cabinet minutes and strategic documents were leaked to Anosike and passed to a Dangote Group executive, which NPC director-general Kaire Mbuende also rejects.
19 August 2026 · Windhoek Observer →

Thursday 13 August

Minister hands over N$132 million Walvis Bay road rehabilitation
Works and transport minister Veikko Nekundi officially handed over a N$132 million road rehabilitation project covering six deteriorating roads and roughly eight kilometres across Walvis Bay, a collaboration between the Roads Authority, Road Fund Administration, and Walvis Bay Municipality with Unik Construction as contractor. Nekundi emphasised the need for accountability, on-time delivery within budget, quality standards, and fair treatment of workers.
13 August 2026 · Windhoek Observer →

Thursday 16 July

Swapo denies managing Farm 37 housing list at district office
Swapo Party's Walvis Bay Rural district coordinator Patrick Barthomeus has denied allegations that the party is managing the municipal housing beneficiary list for the Farm 37 housing project from its district office, calling such claims "malicious lies and propaganda." He stated that Swapo Party district offices are not government institutions and lack the mandate or authority to carry out government functions like housing allocation.
16 July 2026 · Windhoek Observer →

Saturday 11 July

Walvis Bay municipality enforces permit requirements for real estate advertising boards
The Municipality of Walvis Bay is requiring estate agents to obtain an annual outdoor advertising permit costing N$1,602.42 for property advertising boards. Estate agents warn the enforcement could increase operating costs and say they were not consulted beforehand.
11 July 2026 · The Namibian →

Thursday 2 July

Walvis Bay accelerates road repairs across multiple streets
The Municipality of Walvis Bay is conducting multiple road maintenance and rehabilitation projects across the town in phases, with contractor DJJ Investment CC addressing potholes and routine maintenance on streets including Namib Street, 6th Road, Nangolo Mbumba Drive, and Sam Nujoma Avenue, while Westwing JV Area 7 Engineering undertakes more extensive rehabilitation work on Kabeljou Street including pothole patching, slurry sealing, and crack sealing.
2 July 2026 · Windhoek Observer →

Tuesday 23 June

Walvis Bay municipality warns couple against unauthorised pothole repairs
The Municipality of Walvis Bay has warned residents against carrying out pothole repairs on public roads without approval, following reports that an unemployed couple had begun repairing potholes in the coastal town. The municipality says it has appointed a contractor to carry out pothole repairs as part of its official road maintenance programme.
23 June 2026 · The Namibian →

Thursday 18 June

Walvis Bay municipality orders informal traders to vacate CBD
The Municipality of Walvis Bay has issued a directive ordering informal traders to vacate their trading spots in the central business district by yesterday. Traders say they paid municipal fees last year to operate from their current locations and claim the municipality has not told them where they should relocate.
18 June 2026 · The Namibian →
Walvis Bay orders informal traders to vacate CBD by Wednesday
The Municipality of Walvis Bay has ordered informal traders operating in the town's Central Business District to cease operations and vacate by 17 June 2026, with law enforcement and cleanup operations to begin Friday for non-compliant traders. The order is part of a regulatory framework introduced in March that requires informal traders to obtain permits and relocate to designated trading zones.
18 June 2026 · Windhoek Observer →

Friday 12 June

Walvis Bay Municipality cancels sale of 67 residential plots
Walvis Bay Municipality has cancelled the sale of 67 erven, of which 66 were single residential plots for first-time buyers, following a ministerial directive. Non-residential plots will proceed with sale as planned.
12 June 2026 · New Era →

Wednesday 13 May

NamWater announces planned water supply interruptions for Walvis Bay
The Namibia Water Corporation has announced planned power outages on 21 May 2026 (08:30–17:30) and 1 June 2026 (08:00–17:00) due to NamPower maintenance work on the Ruby 11kV network and Sekelduin 2 line, which will suspend water supply operations at the Ruby Intake Station for approximately eight hours each day. NamWater and Walvis Bay Municipality are working to keep reservoirs at full supply to mitigate the impact, and residents are urged to use water sparingly.
13 May 2026 · Informanté →

Tuesday 12 May

Walvis Bay municipality approves N$1.6 billion budget
The Walvis Bay municipality tabled a N$1.6 billion budget for 2026/2027, comprising N$883 million in capital spending and N$690 million in operating costs. Land development projects receive the largest allocation at N$299 million (34% of capital), followed by infrastructure repair and replacement at N$249 million (28%).
12 May 2026 · Namibian Sun →

Monday 13 April

Walvis Bay housing shortage drives soaring electricity consumption
Rapid population growth and proliferation of informal backyard housing in Walvis Bay have driven electricity consumption to record levels, with the suburb of Kuisebmond alone consuming 54% of Swakopmund's total power use. The municipality faces increasing pressure to provide affordable housing and land, with approximately 23 000 backyard shacks housing 42 000 people and thousands more on waiting lists.
13 April 2026 · New Era →

Friday 10 April

Ministry de-proclaiming landfill area to boost municipal oversight
The Ministry of Environment and Tourism will remove part of the Walvis Bay landfill from Dorob National Park to allow the municipality full management authority and ability to enforce bylaws. The ministry has issued a compliance order against illegal tyre burning at the site, which residents report creates toxic smoke affecting the town, and has flagged health risks from living near the landfill.
10 April 2026 · The Namibian →

Sunday 29 March

Walvis Bay gains planning authority powers for local development
The Municipality of Walvis Bay has been declared an Authorised Planning Authority, enabling it to oversee land use approvals and development applications such as rezoning and township establishment previously handled at national level. The municipality expects the status to reduce processing delays and improve service delivery through local decision-making.
29 March 2026 · The Namibian →

Thursday 19 March

Walvis Bay Municipality plagued by seventeen years of governance failures
Walvis Bay Municipality has been without an internal audit, performance management system, or general manager for 17 years, with further gaps including poorly designed job descriptions, a recently established procurement unit, and reports of staff conducting business with the municipality. Mayor Johannes Shimbilinga revealed these systemic governance failures to residents and called for reforms to address deep-rooted institutional problems affecting service delivery.
19 March 2026 · New Era →

Wednesday 18 March

Walvis Bay areas face three-day water supply interruption
The Walvis Bay municipality announced that Langstrand and Kuisebmond will experience a temporary water interruption from 17 to 19 March due to a supply disruption from the Swakopmund supply line. Residents are urged to use water sparingly and make preparations.
18 March 2026 · The Namibian →

Friday 13 March

Heatwave drives beach crowds; lifeguards warn of drowning risks
Lifeguards in Walvis Bay are warning of increased drowning risk as coastal heatwaves with temperatures between 35–36°C drive large crowds to beaches and swimming areas without adequate safety precautions. Monarch Lifeguard Services founder Marthin Muyenga urges close supervision of children, warns against improvised flotation devices, and advises against swimming under the influence of alcohol, while the Municipality of Walvis Bay has deployed certified lifeguards at Independence Beach and temporarily opened Dolphin Park swimming pool during weekdays.
13 March 2026 · The Namibian →

Wednesday 28 January

Parliamentary committee consults on housing and land delivery
A parliamentary standing committee is holding consultative meetings in Rundu this week with five major local authorities to assess land delivery and housing provision. The consultations aim to give Parliament an evidence-based understanding of how housing is planned and delivered at local level, identify constraints, and propose solutions to Namibia's estimated 300,000 to 700,000-unit housing backlog.
28 January 2026 · New Era →

Tuesday 27 January

Parliamentary committee consults municipalities on housing provision challenges
A parliamentary standing committee on urban and rural development is holding consultative meetings at Rundu with five major local authorities to assess land delivery and housing provision. The consultations aim to gather evidence on how housing is planned and delivered, identify constraints, and propose practical measures to address Namibia's estimated housing backlog of 300,000 to 700,000 units.
27 January 2026 · The Namibian →

Thursday 22 January

Minister warns government bodies to pay outstanding municipal debts
The Minister of Urban and Rural Development has warned ministries and councillors to settle outstanding municipal debts or face disconnections and sanctions. As of March 2025, local authorities and councils owed the Namibia Water Corporation N$2.4 billion, with the City of Windhoek reporting residents, businesses, and government combined owe the municipality N$1.2 billion.
22 January 2026 · The Namibian →