Havana water and roads in focus
Havana’s growing population is putting increasing pressure on basic services, with the City of Windhoek now outlining plans to improve water, sanitation, roads and public safety in the area. The plans were discussed during the City’s latest public engagement with Havana residents, who raised a range of concerns affecting their daily lives, including inadequate sanitation, road safety, traffic and security.
Among the major developments planned is an upgrade of Windhoek’s bulk wastewater network, which carries wastewater to treatment facilities. The City says strengthening this network will improve the movement and treatment of wastewater while creating greater capacity to extend sanitation services to expanding communities.
Havana is also earmarked for a water treatment facility, while sanitation infrastructure is planned for the Ongos Valley area. The projects are expected to make it easier for households and other facilities to connect to the sewer network, while supporting the expansion of sanitation services as development in the area continues.
Residents were also given an update on the stalled work at the Havana 4-Way intersection. The completion of the Eneas Peter Nanyemba Road upgrade has been delayed by outstanding relocation matters involving households and vendors situated within the road reserve. The City said the matter is being dealt with through the appropriate legal processes. Affected households have already been allocated plots in Havana Extensions 8 and 11. Once the affected area is cleared, vendors operating along the road reserve are expected to move to a planned community market, allowing the remaining road construction to continue.
The delay has become a concern for residents as traffic volumes increase and development spreads towards Ongos Valley. Residents living along the road to Ongos Valley also want measures introduced to slow down motorists. They called on the City to install speed humps, particularly because two schools are located near the busy road. Residents said the safety of children and other pedestrians should be considered as traffic in the area increases. The community further requested an expansion of the taxi rank towards Ongos Valley, saying improved public transport facilities are needed to accommodate the growing population. Residents also asked for more CCTV cameras to be installed in the area as part of efforts to strengthen security and deter criminal activity.
Mayor of Windhoek, Sakaria Uunona, told residents that their concerns had been heard and would receive the necessary attention. The engagement highlights the growing demands being placed on Windhoek’s infrastructure as informal and formal settlements expand and new residential developments emerge. Havana, in particular, is experiencing rapid development towards Ongos Valley, making investment in water, sanitation, roads and public safety increasingly important.
The planned infrastructure projects could therefore have a significant impact on the community. As the City continues its public engagements across Windhoek, the challenge will be turning residents’ concerns and municipal plans into visible improvements in the communities that need them most.
