Vandalism puts Windhoek settlement upgrades at risk
The City of Windhoek’s efforts to upgrade informal settlements and improve living conditions are being undermined by vandalism of municipal infrastructure and unsafe electricity connections.
City of Windhoek Councillor Jesaya Ikali raised the concern during a public meeting in the Moses //Garoëb Constituency over the weekend, saying the destruction and theft of municipal infrastructure are forcing the City to redirect resources towards repairs and replacements. Ikali said communal taps have been broken and stolen, while copper electricity cables and other municipal infrastructure have also been targeted.
According to Ikali, the cost of repairing vandalised infrastructure comes at the expense of further development and improved services. “Vandalism stalls development, as resources that could have been used to fund further development and improve services are instead being redirected towards repairing and replacing vandalised municipal infrastructure,” he said.
Illegal electricity connections were also highlighted as a growing concern, with residents warned that attempts to access electricity through unsafe means can have fatal consequences. Wilhelm Kalimbo, the City’s Informal Electrification Coordinator and Liaison Officer, said fatalities have already been recorded as a result of unsafe electricity connections. He urged residents to avoid illegal connections and instead seek safe and legal alternatives.
Kalimbo said the City’s efforts to expand electricity infrastructure in informal settlements are sometimes complicated by residents who are unwilling to relocate when space is needed for electricity poles and related infrastructure.
He also cautioned residents against occupying areas directly underneath high-voltage electricity towers, warning that these locations pose serious safety risks.
The City is meanwhile encouraging residents to consider solar energy as a safer alternative. Residents can obtain advice and guidance through the City’s Solar Centre, currently located in town. In an effort to bring information closer to communities, six solar ambassadors have also been established in the Moses //Garoëb Constituency to assist residents with solar-related information and guidance.
