Lahja Nashuuta 

The City of Windhoek (CoW) has connected more than 7 000 zinc structures to the municipal electricity grid, providing power to over 35 000 residents, Strategic Executive for Electricity, Obrien Hekandjo, has confirmed. 

Citing the 2023 National Census, Hekandjo said only 64% of Windhoek’s 144 640 households are currently electrified, leaving around 52 070 homes without access to electricity. 

Speaking during a recent public engagement, Hekandjo expressed concern that the city’s population is growing at the rate of 4% annually, with more than 2 000 new shacks erected each year. 

To address this ongoing challenge, the city is implementing a dual electrification strategy. This involves connecting both planned informal settlements and existing zinc shacks in their current locations, only relocating them when necessary for road or pathway development. 

“This strategy aims to electrify over 9 400 homes annually at an estimated cost of N$60–100 million. Revenue from informal rent collections – projected at N$70 million annually from 54 000 zinc structures – will help fund the upgrading and formalisation process,” Hekandjo said. 

He also outlined the city’s broader energy agenda, which includes the development of a Solar Energy Centre, revitalisation of Central Business District (CBD) street lighting, continued rollout of prepaid electricity meters, and implementation of 186 GWh worth of renewable energy projects. Other initiatives include a large-scale streetlight repair programme, a crackdown on illegal connections, and the introduction of a customer outage management system. 

In terms of water and sanitation, acting Strategic Executive for Infrastructure, Water and Technical Services, David Adams, reported notable progress between 2020 and 2025. 

He said a total of 194 new communal toilets were constructed, increasing the number from 1 220 to 1 414. This raised the number of people served by 16%, from 48 800 to 56 560. 

Additionally, 227 new standpipes (communal water points) were installed, raising the total from 1 057 to 1 279. The population served increased by 22%, from 84 160 to 102 320. 

Adams said the city’s development policy requires one communal toilet for every 40 residents within a 100-metre radius and one standpipe for every 80 people within 200 metres. 

Windhoek chief executive officer Moses Matyayi acknowledged persistent constraints, including ageing infrastructure, regulatory hurdles, limited funding, and high levels of municipal debt, particularly among pensioners. Nonetheless, he maintained that more residents now have access to basic services than ever before. 

“Despite these hurdles, our collective progress as a council speaks for itself. Most residents now have access to water, sanitation, housing and electricity,” he said. 

Matyayi highlighted that Windhoek, home to over 486 000 people – accounting for 98.3% of the Khomas region’s population – continues to face immense pressure on its infrastructure and services. 

While acknowledging progress made, Matyayi stressed that the journey is far from complete. 

“The City of Windhoek recognises that much remains to be done. However, the foundation laid over the past five years – in land delivery, infrastructure development, service improvements and institutional reform – provides a solid platform for future progress,” he said. 

“To transform Windhoek into a sustainable, inclusive and smart city, we must continue engaging communities, embracing innovation, and ensuring transparent governance,” Matyayi concluded. 

-lnashuuta@nepc.com.na