Owela museum clean-up restores civic pride
Once an eyesore and symbol of neglect in the heart of the capital, the grounds of the historic Owela Museum have received a much-needed facelift, proving that public pressure and community collaboration can bring about tangible change.Earlier this year, Spotlighting Namibia reported extensively on the appalling state of the museum grounds, which had become overrun by litter and occupied by homeless residents. The fence surrounding the site was in disrepair, the grass overgrown, and the area had turned into what many described as a “health hazard.”
However, a recent visit revealed a remarkable transformation. The once dilapidated fence has been replaced with a sturdy, secure structure, and the grounds are now spotlessly clean. Although the museum itself remains closed to the public, its surroundings no longer reflect the neglect seen earlier this year.
The turnaround follows months of public pressure and civic action. When the outcry appeared to fall on deaf ears, environmental activist Hendrik Schmidt rallied a group of volunteers who, on 2 February, collected 56 bags of rubbish at the museum’s rear entrance in just two hours.
According to an on-site security guard, inmates from the Windhoek Correctional Facility assisted in cleaning the grounds, and a more extensive clean-up is planned. City of Windhoek spokesperson Lydia Amutenya recently confirmed to Namibian Sun that the City’s Solid Waste Management team was also involved in the restoration effort, working alongside other stakeholders to clear and rehabilitate the site.