This week’s weather in Windhoek fluctuated around 34°C and 12% humidity. The heat has been scorching since Sunday. People are lazing around, pondering what the year holds for them.

But go to small shops and see how people in Katutura buy “koop krag” for N$20, N$30 just to get by. Councillors, do we for one moment sit down and ponder on the wonders we can do with this heat? Even in the south of Namibia, solar energy could be of great use.

In communities like Katutura Central, Wanaheda and Khomasdal, there aren’t many resources. Apart from riverbeds we can turn into something, there’s no space to even promise houses anyway. The work is in improving the people and their living environment. In truth, there are not more than 30 households with solar panels in Katutura Central, a constituency of more than 35 000 people, meaning there are more drinking holes than houses with solar energy provision. 

With such heat, and how people struggle to pay for sufficient electricity, community solar projects or purchasing programmes within geographical areas could help. Such solar projects could benefit multiple groups of people and communities.

Solar energy can power communities. We just need councillors and leaders to mobilise efforts, and bring the experts to local halls so that we engage and understand more about the cost and economic benefits. 

The concept of street stokvels and collectively shared solar energy can bring an economic difference to Katutura and areas like Tseiblaagte in Keetmanshoop.

Namibia had projects intended with Botswana, I wonder how far they were pushed. Community solar consumption is found and encouraged in countries like Italy, Holland, the US and even in South Africa.

We usually just jump on bandwagons like industrial revolution, green scheme and other fancy terms. Can’t we just do something game-changing? It will affect municipal debt in a good way too.

According to the International Renewable Energy Agency, more than 70% of the global carbon emissions in the atmosphere are due to energy generation and use. These emissions must fall to zero by 2050 in order to limit a global temperature rise to 1.5°C, as per the Paris Agreement target. This requires a massive shift towards electrification and renewable energy sources.

Power generation should expand threefold to reach 70,800 TWh/a (terawatt-hour per year) by 2050, with renewables providing 90% of the supply.

Councillors, let’s be proactive in something; let’s change inner cities and townships. 

Happy New Year to you all.