Uakutura Kambaekua

This year’s elections have seen 18 political parties and associations vying for dominance at the City of Windhoek. 

This is a contrast to previous elections, which featured 13 political parties competing for leadership in the capital’s council chambers, The council, which holds the most seats (15) among the 59 local authorities, will have over 200 candidates competing for positions in the municipal chambers.

Windhoek has a total of 255 288 registered voters prepared to cast their ballots on 26 November, representing 78% of registered voters from a total of 329 237 eligible voters.

In the last elections, the ruling Swapo Party lost its control of the city council after losing seven seats due to the rise of the Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) and Affirmative Repositioning (AR), which led to the formation of a coalition among opposition parties.

The last elections saw Swapo gain five seats, IPC four, and both the Landless People’s Movement and AR gain two each, while the Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) and the National Unity Democratic Organisation (Nudo) each gained one.

The City now finds itself at a crossroads, presenting a true test for those who will govern the council for the next five years, as its citizens continue to struggle with poverty, a high unemployment rate, and issues related to housing, water, and electricity.

Political commentator, Natjirikasorua Tjirera, told Nampa that Windhoek’s political policies need to be responsive to the challenges that come with a fast-growing city.

“The City of Windhoek needs leaders who are well-versed in the socio-economic challenges that face the city and who also possess the necessary skills to address those challenges,” he remarked.

Tjirera also challenged those competing for the city’s council to reduce the exorbitant allowances given to City councillors and invest the bulk of the city’s budget in the provision of services to the electorate and not to the top managers.

According to Tjirera, the city needs selfless and courageous leaders who are sufficiently educated to make informed decisions.

“They should understand the dynamics of governance, economics, and development for them to thrive,” he said, adding that the coalition did not achieve the desired results because it was set up singularly to give councillors positions and not to give the electorate the necessary solutions.

He believes that having 18 parties competing for 15 seats is excessive.

“It exposes the lack of trust the people have in conventional political parties, as well as the perception that political positions are vehicles for luxurious lifestyles. It unfortunately has nothing to do with the desire to put forward the most competent servants of the city, but has rather become a race for all who believe they should eat from the council coffers,” he remarked.

Tjirera also highlighted that a coalition might be on the cards again.

“I only hope that before entering into coalitions, the parties discuss what they intend to offer the electorate, agree on that, and then place people in positions who will serve the agenda they agreed upon,” he stated.

Social commentator Sam Kauapirura, said that for Windhoek to succeed in mitigating its ongoing challenges, it requires skilled leaders who can effectively network and navigate the corridors of power to secure funding and opportunities that will improve and deliver services for the city.

He also mentioned that if there were to be another coalition government, it could potentially fail.

“I’m not quite sure if a political coalition will be very successful if you look at their historical performance,” he added.

Kauapirura said the upcoming election should ideally result in complete dominance by one party, emphasising that citizens have experienced more progress when the City of Windhoek was firmly under the leadership of a single dominant party, rather than the coalition framework currently in place.

“I believe the coalition government has likely produced very mixed results, with no significant impact on pressing issues such as the acute housing shortage, the continually growing budget deficit of the city, the expanding informal settlements, the rising costs of land servicing and plots, and access to services. These are the primary challenges facing any council that seeks to manage the city’s affairs,” he remarked.

According to political analyst Ndumba Kamwanyah, Windhoek needs practical leaders with the will to mitigate the current challenges faced by citizens instead of fighting each other.

“Windhoek needs leaders who are honest, practical, and focused on solving problems instead of fighting each other. The City requires people who understand issues like housing, water, sanitation, crime, and unemployment and who can plan long-term solutions,” he noted.

He said the council will require leaders who will work in cohesion with the community, adding that the current coalition leadership has been stalling vital projects through internal fights.

“The ideal leaders are those who listen to communities, make decisions based on evidence, and communicate openly. Windhoek also needs leaders who can work together, because progress in a big city depends on teamwork, not personal interests,” he said.

With 18 parties and associations competing, Kamwanyah said the vote will likely be spread out again.

“It is difficult for one party to win an outright majority in such a crowded field. Because of that, another coalition is the most likely outcome,” he said, emphasising that if parties enter with clear agreements and shared priorities, a coalition could work.

The parties and associations competing for the council seats include Swapo, IPC, AR, LPM, Nudo, PDM, Swanu, Namibia Economic Freedom Fighters, the United Democratic Front, United Namibians Party, Republican Party of Namibia, Rally for Democracy and Progress, People Centred Development Association, National Empowerment Fighting Corruption, Namibia Progressive Party, All People’s Party, Body of Christ and the Association of Localised Interest.

-Nampa