“At the conference opening, Windhoek mayor Sakarias Uunona said cities face increasingly complex challenges that require evidence-based solutions and stronger partnerships between local authorities, universities, industry and communities.”
City mayor and Swapo councillor Sakarias Uunonamade defeatist claim thatnothing can be done about traffic congestion
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“City mayor and Swapo councillor Sakarias Uunona's defeatist claim that nothing can be done is as breathtakingly brash as it is politically out of touch.”
Mayor Sakarias Uunonaconductedsite visits on Friday to inspect electrification project areas
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“The progress was highlighted during site visits on Friday by Mayor Sakarias Uunona, Deputy Mayor Albertina Amutenya, councillors, City of Windhoek chief executive officer Moses Matyayi and municipal engineers, who inspected areas earmarked for electrification and received updates on the project.”
City mayor Sakarias Uunonatold The Namibianmotorists must use alternative routes and avoid cutting queues
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“City mayor Sakarias Uunona told The Namibian yesterday that motorists must use alternative routes where possible, be considerate of other road users and avoid cutting queues.”
Windhoek mayor Sakarias Uunonasaidfirst phase of fibre commercialisation project completed
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“Two weeks ago, Windhoek mayor Sakarias Uunona said the first phase of the fibre commercialisation project had been completed and it identified business opportunities and developed a model to make the city's fibre network commercially viable.”
Mayor Sakarias UunonasaidWindhoek faces rapid urbanisation, rising demand for housing and services, mobility challenges, climate pressures, and the need to create jobs and economic opportunities
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“During the launch of the strategy, the Mayor of the City of Windhoek, Sakarias Uunona, said that Windhoek, like many cities across Africa, faces unique challenges and opportunities.”
Uunonasaidthe city looks forward to strengthening collaboration with UN-Habitat and the UNITAC Project
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“It is for this reason that we look forward to continuing and strengthening our collaboration with UN-Habitat and the UNITAC Project as we begin the next phase, including steps to support implementation.”
City mayor Sakarias Uunonaacknowledged thatstrategy success depends on implementation rather than planning alone
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“For his part, the city's mayor Sakarias Uunona acknowledged that the success of the strategy would ultimately depend on implementation rather than planning alone.”
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah opened the 13th Chamber of Mines Mining Expo and Conference, themed "From Dialogue to Delivery: Assessing Progress in Creating Mining-Led Economic Growth and Employment Since NamPPF." The President stated that the mining sector remains one of Namibia's leading economic sectors towards Vision 2030.
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah opened the 13th Chamber of Mines Mining Expo and Conference, themed "From Dialogue to Delivery: Assessing Progress in Creating Mining-Led Economic Growth and Employment Since NamPPF." The President stated that the mining sector remains one of Namibia's leading economic sectors towards Vision 2030.
The 4th Southern Africa Regional Science Association Conference in Windhoek brought together delegates from across the SADC to discuss inclusive and sustainable regional development. Leaders called for stronger collaboration between researchers and policymakers to address southern Africa's urban, economic and environmental challenges.
Windhoek's infrastructure has failed to keep pace with population growth, with commuters facing hour-long journeys clogged with potholes and non-functioning traffic lights, while municipal authorities have deflected responsibility rather than offering solutions.
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.
Road users in Windhoek report spending hours on the road during peak periods, with journey times significantly longer than before. An Elisenheim resident cited a morning trip that now takes 45 minutes to over an hour, compared to 30 minutes previously, and identified a bottleneck near the B1 and Namibia Breweries turnoff where traffic lights have not been functioning.
The City of Windhoek destroyed approximately 580,000 kilograms of food deemed unfit for human consumption and obtained a court order to close a non-compliant food business as part of a food safety enforcement drive. The municipality also conducted 140 sampling exercises across formal and informal businesses to monitor compliance with food safety standards.
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.
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.
The City of Windhoek's municipal council has launched its People-Centred Smart City Strategy 2026–2036 to guide the city's transformation, addressing challenges including rapid urbanisation, housing demand, mobility, and climate pressures through technology adoption and digital governance initiatives.
The City of Windhoek launched a People-Centred Smart City Strategy (2026–2036) in partnership with UN-Habitat, aiming to guide development through digital innovation and data-driven governance, but community activists have expressed mixed views on whether the municipality can balance technological ambitions with current service delivery challenges.
The City of Windhoek has unveiled a People-Centred Smart City Strategy for 2026-2036 that includes plans for digital governance, municipal fibre commercialisation, and a proposed commuter rail link. The strategy deserves recognition for its long-term vision, though experts caution it must remain focused on delivering fundamental services.
The City of Windhoek launched a People-Centred Smart City Strategy 2026-2036 aimed at reshaping the capital through digital transformation, modernising public transport, and commercialising its fibre-optic network, including a proposed commuter rail service linking Windhoek, Katutura, and Rehoboth.
Murders in Windhoek dropped 14% and robberies fell 22% during January–May 2026 compared to the same period last year, according to the mayor, though motor vehicle theft rose 4% and armed robbery increased 10%.
The City of Windhoek has repaired over 76,000 potholes but faces funding pressures exceeding N$737 million. Mayor Sakarias Uunona states the city needs N$384 million annually for routine maintenance plus an additional N$353 million for damage from the 2024/25 rainy season, though it receives only 5–10% of required support from the Road Fund Administration.
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.
Standard Bank has launched the 2026 Blue Growth Series Informal Sector Activation in partnership with the Namibia Investment and Finance Academy, aiming to help informal traders transition towards formalization and financial inclusion by providing practical training, mentorship, and market access. The bank's head of enterprise noted that many informal entrepreneurs lack access to funding not from ambition deficits but from missing formal structures and financial discipline, while officials stressed that the informal sector contributes an estimated 26–27% to Namibia's GDP but remains largely outside formal systems.
Mobile Telecommunications Ltd has provided N$450,000 to support the "Go Green, Skip the Plastic" initiative, which will distribute 4,000 reusable shopping bags and run an awareness campaign to reduce single-use plastic and encourage sustainable habits among Windhoek residents.
Mobile Telecommunications Ltd and the City of Windhoek have partnered on a "Go Green, Skip the Plastic" campaign, with MTC pledging N$450,000 to purchase 4,000 reusable shopping bags and run awareness initiatives aimed at reducing single-use plastic and encouraging environmental protection among residents.
The City of Windhoek launched the 2026 Mayoral Clean-Up Campaign to address declining environmental standards as the city's population has grown from 340,000 in 2011 to approximately 486,186 in 2023. Mayor Sakarias Uunona called for community participation and shared responsibility in waste management, with the campaign running until October 2026 under the theme 'Go Green, Skip the Plastic'.
The City of Windhoek has approved renaming Rand Street in Khomasdal to Joshua //Hoebeb Street, honouring the former diplomat and educator for his contributions to education, community development and Namibia's liberation struggle. //Hoebeb, Namibia's first high commissioner to South Africa, played a key role in the reintegration of Walvis Bay in 1994 and later served as high commissioner to Botswana and governor of Kunene.
Newly elected Windhoek mayor Sakarias Uunona defended his lack of a tertiary degree, saying leadership requires hard work and experience rather than academic qualifications. His remarks respond to calls by urban development minister James Sankwasa and several political parties for mandatory minimum educational qualifications among local councillors.