Isabel Bento

WALVIS BAY – Walvis Bay mayor Trevino Forbes has blamed the deteriorating situation on political sabotage by officials who deliberately ignore doing their work.

He warned that those found wanting would be dealt with decisively.

Meanwhile, the Walvis Bay Youth Forum has expressed concern over the current state of service delivery in the town, describing the once-prized coastal hub as dirty and unfit for dignified living.

“There is an element of sabotage within the municipality of Walvis Bay that needs to be addressed. 

Something is wrong, and it’s political sabotage within the institution. We are going to deal with it decisively,” the mayor said.

Forbes has in the past called out the town’s  administration for not carrying out council resolutions, stating that some are politically aligned and are being used to sabotage the council’s efforts.

He added that Independent Patriots for Change (IPC), which currently holds the majority of seats on the council, is open to working with anyone who puts the town’s interests first.

“This is what IPC is all about. We are willing to work with those willing to work for the betterment of this town, this region, and our country,” he said.

His remarks come after three IPC councillors recently defected to the Swapo party.

Forbes believes the defections and other setbacks are aimed at blurring the council’s achievements, and claimed the current leadership had delivered more in five years than previous councils did in longer periods. 

As an example, he highlighted the allocation of more than 2 000 plots to the Shack Dwellers Federation of Namibia.

“We tapped into our own resources and cleaned the town ourselves. But it’s important to ask: how is it possible that a huge municipality like Walvis Bay cannot even clean itself? How is it that refuse is not being removed, and tenders are constantly cancelled just before they are awarded?” he asked.
The forum accused the Walvis Bay Municipal Council and its management of negligence, further questioning whether municipal leaders even reside in the town, given their apparent detachment from the worsening conditions.

The forum’s secretary for the rural wing, Immanuel Festus, called for the state of affairs in the town to be declared a state of emergency, noting that the situation is at a point of no return.
The group further warned that the condition of the roads, characterised by potholes and uneven surfaces, poses serious safety hazards and causes damage to vehicles belonging to residents and tourists.
This public outcry comes amid growing pressure on the Walvis Bay Municipal Council to address long-standing concerns related to sanitation and urban management. It has also drawn criticism from the newly appointed chairperson of the Erongo Regional Council management committee, Florian Donatus, who addressed these concerns in his maiden speech last month.
In that speech, Donatus acknowledged the poor state of services in Walvis Bay and committed the regional leadership to working closely with local authorities to improve basic services and infrastructure.
“We cannot allow a strategic town like Walvis Bay to deteriorate to such a state. Service delivery must be prioritised, and residents deserve to see results, not empty promises,” he said at the time.
Donatus also underscored the importance of collaborative governance, urging councillors, administrators and national government to act with urgency.

Admission

The municipality has since acknowledged ongoing service delivery challenges following residents’ recent outcry, demanding improved hygiene and public health in the town.

In response, the municipality, in a statement on Friday, confirmed it was aware of residents’ difficulties and was actively implementing short- and long-term interventions to restore services.
“These concerns are not being taken lightly. Many issues stem from ageing infrastructure, the recent heavy rainfall, population growth, and ongoing illegal dumping,” the statement read.
To improve waste management, the municipality implemented a revised five-day refuse removal schedule following breakdowns to several of its trucks.
An external service provider was urgently procured to assist with refuse collection, and five new compactor trucks are expected by the end of July 2025.
The solid waste management team has received increased support, and the Team-Up-2-Clean-Up campaign has been reactivated, conducting weekly clean-ups in illegal dumping hotspots.
Regarding sanitation, the municipality noted it is nearing the completion of upgrades to sewer lines in Kuisebmond’s Mars and Sandwich streets.
-Nampa