Council split over Walvis Bay’s billion-dollar budget
Allexer Namundjebo
Two Walvis Bay Municipal Council members have rejected the proposed N$1.3 billion budget for the 2025/2026 financial year.
Councillors Ronald Bramwell and Ephraim Shozi said the budget is unrealistic and does not reflect the real needs of residents.
They raised concerns about poor community consultation and financial mismanagement.
Bramwell criticised the budgeting process, saying the municipality struggles to spend allocated funds effectively and continues to marginalise residents.
“I do not agree with the budget. I think it is a bit of a show that is put on every year, and we never manage to do it the way it should be done,” he said.
“The money collected belongs to the community. The municipality, not the owner, has an obligation to use that money for the benefit of the people.”
He noted that only a small part of the current N$45 million capital budget has been spent, with two months left in the financial year.
He also critiqued the consultation process, saying public meetings were informative but not participatory.
“This has become a standard practice; residents are only told how the money will be spent, not asked for their input,” he said.
Shozi agreed. He said the budget lacks legitimacy without proper engagement.
“What is a budget without the input of the community? It’s an insult to these communities. We must acknowledge our mistakes and correct them going forward,” Shozi said.
The budget was tabled by Councillor Richard Hoaeb, Chairperson of the Management Committee. It proposes N$632 million for capital projects and N$660 million for operations.
The budget allocates N$272 million for land development projects, including Farm 37, Narraville Extension 8, and Walvis Bay Extension 9.
Hoaeb said land delivery remains a key driver for economic growth. He also announced plans to buy five refuse trucks to improve waste collection.
Hoaeb said utility services such as water, sanitation, and refuse removal will fund most of the operating budget.
He confirmed a 3% average tariff increase, which is below the national inflation rate of 5%. He also said the newly appointed CEO, Victoria Kapenda, who took office in September 2024, would help improve implementation and resolve operational issues.
This follows last year’s N$887 million capital budget, which also drew criticism. At the time, Hoaeb said N$173 million of that amount went to land development.
“I can assure you that the Council remains steadfast in its commitment to land delivery, which serves as a cornerstone for investment, prosperity, and job creation. In alignment with our objectives and public-private partnership initiatives, I am pleased to share a list of ongoing land development projects undertaken by the Council of Walvis Bay,” Hoaeb said.
From that budget, N$11.1 million went to developing Farm 37 (Main), N$21.8 million to Portion 11, and N$22.8 million to Portion 10. Portions 10 and 11 were expected to yield 727 plots, including 677 for residential use.
N$48 million was allocated to Narraville Extension 8, expected to produce 225 plots, 194 of which are residential. Another N$10 million was set aside for Meersig Extension 3, expected to yield 96 plots, including 86 residential ones.
Priorities and service delivery
Valtens Ntinda, head of the Affirmative Repositioning Secretariat in Erongo, raised concerns about the timing of the new budget and the lack of accountability.
“I’m not convinced by the municipality’s gesture to allocate and deliver land to the residents at this point,” Ntinda said.
“The political office bearers’ term is coming to an end, and so is the strategic plan that promised a miraculous 900 plots. In short, lack of planning is at the centre of it all, and there will be no accountability.”
He said the municipality has been allocating millions toward the same land development projects for years, with little to show.
“In 2023, N$18.5 million was allocated to service the same 727 erven at Farm 37, while over N$50 million was budgeted for the same project in 2024, with no significant impact. The municipality allocated N$26.7 million for 81 erven in Narraville in 2023 and again allocated N$48 million in 2024. This year, the same project received N$52 million. The people are still waiting,” he said.
He added that land delivery is the greatest challenge in Walvis Bay, where shack numbers are rising.
“A big portion of these projects goes to high-end locations and high-income earners, who are the minority. The majority of our people continue to receive the smallest allocation, which results in a lack of service delivery,” he said.
“Sewer infrastructure remains in a terrible state in areas like Kuisebmund. Despite the allocation of millions, the roads continue to deteriorate. Twaloloka and surrounding areas remain reminders of how poor service delivery has been over the years,” Ntinda said.
He also criticises the lack of community involvement.
“During the 2023/2024 budget announcement, many residents expressed frustration for not being included, especially regarding Farm 37 and relocation plans. Yet little has been done to run awareness campaigns that involve low-income residents, who are the most affected,” he said.
Former Walvis Bay Urban councillor Knowledge Ipinge has described the municipality’s latest budget as a “theatre performance”, heavy on promises but lacking action.
He said the council has repeatedly failed to implement its plans, with capital spending falling below 14% of allocated funds in 2022 and 2023.
Targets such as delivering 727 erven at Farm 37 remain unmet, and revenue collection is underperforming.
The Council only collected 63.1% of projected revenue, missing its 82.8% target last year.
Ipinge said the current council may finish its term without delivering a single fully serviced plot or house.
He blamed poor planning and weak cash flow management for the delays.
He criticised the ongoing neglect of Kuisebmund and Twaloloka, where overflowing sewage and crumbling infrastructure continue despite repeated multi-million-dollar allocations.
“It remains a fairytale how they plan to solve the rivers of raw sewage swallowing our streets,” he said.
Ipinge accused a “cabal of councillors” of prioritising self-enrichment over service delivery.
He said the Council has ignored repeated calls for a community-led low-cost housing and land strategy.
He pointed out that the backyard shack economy has the potential to generate up to N\$50 million a month.
“Without addressing these systemic failures, overambition will always outpace delivery, and trust will continue to erode,” he said.
Deputy Mayor Saara Mutondoka defended the budget.
“The budget is our town’s primary policy document. It reflects the Council’s priorities and states many of the Council’s goals and objectives in enhancing the quality of life for all our residents,” she said.
“I would also like to thank the staff of the Municipality of Walvis Bay who worked hard this year to compile budget reports. Your commitment is admirable.”
The 2024/2025 budget also allocated N$42 million for service delivery projects, N$104 million for infrastructure repairs and replacements, N$35 million for social projects, and N$91.5 million for new and replacement vehicles.
