News from council chambers
The Windhoek municipal council approved the following items during their most recent meeting.• Request to accept a partial donation to conduct the pre-feasibility study of waste to energy from Smart City Sweden:
In the past, the City of Windhoek (CoW) department of Electricity invited local companies through a national bidding process to provide a consultancy for waste to energy feasibility studies. These efforts have been unsuccessful twice due to a lack of local experts. The department also attempted to have this done with the assistance of Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST) without success. Smart City Sweden approached the CoW representatives at the Dubai Expo, as part of the Namibia Investment and Promotion Development Board’s participation, and after discussions presented a proposal to conduct a waste to energy prefeasibility study in Windhoek.
The work will be done by the Smart City Sweden Research Institute (IVL) with Smart City Sweden contributing 33% of the costs towards the study. The rest of the cost will be borne by the CoW Infrastructure, Water and Technical Services and Electricity departments.
The total cost of the consulting fees amount to N$4 159 911.25. The CoW will seek the ministerial approval for the donation of 33% of the study costs by Smart City Sweden before proceeding with the project procurement process.
• Signing of co-operation agreements and familiarization visits to sister local authorities:
The CoW resolved to renew expired cooperation agreements with the following sister local authorities:
- Walvis Bay - Karasburg
- Oshikuku - Eenhana
- Helao Nafidi - Ondangwa
- Ongwediva - Oshakati
- Outapi - Otjiwarongo
- Okakarara - Rundu
Requests for the establishment of new cooperation agreements were received from: Berseba, Bukalo, Khorixas; and Okongo.
Council resolved to approve the new requests and the signing of the agreements will be coupled with familiarization visits by the relevant CoW representatives.
• Bestowing and conferment of the title of Alderwoman to Councillor Fransina Kahungu in line with Council Resolution 393/11/2010:
The Municipal Council established a practice to honour councillors for meritorious service to Windhoek for more than 10 years. Hence, in recognition of her service to the residents of the CoW, Councillor Fransina Kahungu was conferred with the honourary title of Alderwoman and received a bronze medal and certificate of acknowledgement.
A ceremony in this regard will be arranged in due course.
• Application to lease a portion of Farm 306/B/31, Windhoek Town and Townlands (Old shooting Range) to establish a small arms training practice, competency testing centre:
Applications by interested parties to lease a portion of Farm 306/B/31 Windhoek Town and Townlands were not supported. Instead, the portion will be reserved to be used as a shooting range to train City Police members and other council employees who use firearms in the course of their duty to be combat ready.