KATIMA MULILO – The Bukalo Village Council is steadily addressing long-standing service delivery challenges facing residents, as targeted infrastructure upgrades and institutional reforms begin to show results across the settlement.
Council Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Anna Sazita said the council’s work has been shaped by the need to respond to practical issues affecting residents’ daily lives, including sanitation, water access, housing shortages, safety concerns and weak financial systems inherited from earlier years.“Our starting point has been to confront the challenges that directly affect how people live,” Sazita said.
She added that “sanitation, water provision, land servicing and safety are not abstract issues – they are realities residents face every day”.
Sanitation, water
One of the most pressing challenges for Bukalo residents has been inadequate sanitation infrastructure.
In response, the council upgraded its sewerage system, significantly reducing health risks and environmental hazards in residential areas. Improvements to water reticulation have also helped stabilise access to clean water.
“Poor sanitation undermines public health and dignity. By upgrading the sewer system and improving water reticulation, we are addressing problems that have affected families for years,” Sazita said.
Housing
Housing demand remains high in Bukalo, particularly among low-income residents.
To ease pressure, the council allocated 500 plots to the Shack Dwellers Federation, with 200 beneficiaries already receiving building materials.
Completion of the first phase of housing is targeted for March 2026, while an additional 120 houses have been approved to follow.
The council has also partnered with Development Workshop to service another 500 plots, with surveying completed and an Environmental Impact Assessment launch scheduled for 3 February 2026. “Access to serviced land is one of the biggest challenges in growing settlements,” Sazita said.
She added that “Our approach is to expand land availability while ensuring proper planning and environmental compliance”.
Safety
Residents have also raised concerns about theft and housebreaking, particularly in overgrown areas that provide cover for criminal activity.
The council responded by awarding a debushing tender to clear surrounding vegetation.
“Safety is closely linked to the physical environment,” Sazita explained. “Since the de-bushing exercise, incidents of cable theft and housebreaking have declined, which shows that simple interventions can make a real difference,” she said.
Informal settlements
Informal settlements remain a major challenge for service delivery and town planning.
With a N$350 000 budget for the 2025/2026 financial year, the council is formalising these areas by extending basic services.
Current projects include servicing 50 shack dweller houses with water and sewer connections, as well as the formalisation of 382 plots with water, sewer, electricity and paved interlocking roads.
In addition, N$1.1 million from the Roads Fund has been secured for road servicing, with tenders already advertised.
“Formalisation allows us to plan properly and extend services fairly,” Sazita said.
“It ensures residents in informal areas are not excluded from development,” she stated.
The council has also faced challenges in financial management, having not submitted financial statements to the Office of the Auditor General since its establishment. To address this, the Bukalo Village Council received N$1 million to restore and update financial records retrospectively over a ten-year period. Once completed, the council will undergo its first-ever audit.
“We cannot deliver services effectively without sound financial systems. Restoring financial accountability is essential for transparency, credibility and future funding,” she said.
To improve operational capacity, the council has also procured two new vehicles to support daily service delivery activities.
Planning
Looking ahead, the council has identified projects aimed at resolving persistent service and infrastructure gaps. These include prepaid water meters, solar streetlights, water reservoirs, paved roads, mass housing, public safety facilities and community infrastructure. These include a sports complex, police station, recreation park and multi-purpose centre. “These projects are about long-term solutions, not short-term fixes,” Sazita said.
She said these are part of a broader plan to make Bukalo more resilient, functional and economically active.
Capacity building
Additionally, the Council has strengthened its human resources through coordinated departments, committed staff and the inclusion of graduate interns, with a particular focus on youth participation and skills development.
“Development is a shared responsibility. Through teamwork, continuity and community partnership, we are steadily addressing challenges and improving the lives of Bukalo residents,” she said.