City rejects claims of inaction over informal settlement upgrading
A strategy to tackle informal settlements adopted as far back as 2020
The City of Windhoek says it has not been slow in upgrading informal settlements under the government’s N$750 million national initiative.In a strongly worded statement issued last week, the municipality emphasised that it has long been engaged in upgrading projects, well before the national programme was launched in March this year, and dismissed allegations of “non-performance” as unfounded.
The council also said they adopted a strategy as far back as 2020 to tackle the mushrooming of informal settlements through structured land delivery and housing.
Additionally, Windhoek said follow-up resolutions made in 2021 laid out a phased approach targeting low- and middle-income households.
“This proactive planning has enabled the City to align seamlessly with the broader national initiative,” the statement read.
Current projects under implementation include Havana Extensions 12–14, Otjomuise Extensions 8, 14, and 15, and Okuryangava Extension 5.
Underserved communities
The City maintains that these projects are proof of its commitment to providing serviced land, municipal infrastructure, and housing in underserved communities.
Reports that Windhoek has failed to cooperate with the Ministry of Urban and Rural Development were rejected outright.
Municipal officials stated that they have attended all monthly technical meetings with other local authorities and submitted detailed reports, the latest of which was in August 2025. Earlier in April and May, the City says it forwarded schedules, financial estimates, and frameworks to the ministry for consideration.
While welcoming the N$750 million pledge, the municipality raised concerns about some of the strings attached. Chief among these is a requirement for the City to be treated as a “public entity” under the Public Procurement Act, 2015, something it argues is “legally inappropriate and not executable.”
It also described the timelines and milestones set by the Ministry as unrealistic, noting that statutory processes under the Urban and Regional Planning Act and procurement laws require more time to complete.
Full pledge
“Despite these constraints, the City continues to move forward with implementation at the fastest legally permissible pace,” the statement read, adding that Windhoek’s spending would outpace that of other local authorities.
Talk of the N$750 million being slashed over supposed poor performance was also shot down.
The City said the ministry’s last correspondence in May confirmed the full pledge, and no reductions have been formalised.
The debate over informal settlement upgrading comes against the backdrop of Windhoek’s housing backlog, which has long been a flashpoint in urban politics. Previous initiatives, such as the pilot project that delivered over 700 houses in Goreangab and Otjomuise, have been reported on by this publication, highlighting both progress and persistent gaps.