City demolishes self-built toilets in Havana
A resident of the Havana informal settlement in Katutura is frustrated after the City of Windhoek demolished a toilet due to a lack of council approval and building permits.The resident, who refused to be named, used her resources to construct the toilet because the communal facilities in her area are in a state of decay.
Many residents resort to unhygienic alternatives such as defecating in plastic bags, using bucket toilets, or using nearby bushes.
She told Network Media Hub (NMH) that the City of Windhoek demolished the toilet brick by brick without warning.
"Nobody ever explained the rules or regulations about building in this area," she said. "It's disheartening. We feel abandoned by the government. When you try to build a decent toilet for yourself, they tear it down. It's incredibly unfair."
Another resident noted that there are only two functioning communal toilets in the settlement.
"Many of us use plastic bags and dump them in riverbeds. The stench is unbearable. We are treated like animals. Politicians show up during election campaigns with promises to improve our lives, but vanish afterwards," the resident, who also did not want to be identified, said.
Vandalised toilets
In 2020, The Namibian reported that communal toilets in the Samora Machel constituency, where Havana is the largest informal settlement, had clogged pipes, chocking with broken toilet pots.
The community, which has around 50 000 residents according to the 2011 Namibia Statistics Agency census, shared fewer than 10 functional toilets at the time.
Approximately 30 toilets were constructed initially to replace bucket toilets and pit latrines. However, most are now unusable due to vandalism and lack of maintenance.
Residents often queue for long periods to access the remaining toilets or resort to open defecation.
Paulus Shifa (40), a resident of the constituency for 13 years, described the situation as dehumanising. He explained that economic hardship means many cannot afford toilet paper, leading some to use cardboard or sticks, which clog the toilets.
Similar incident
In 2023, another Havana resident faced a similar situation when the City demolished a brick pit latrine she had constructed for her household and neighbours.
Samora Machel constituency councillor Nestor Kalola criticised the City's response.
"I only heard that residents were to contribute to toilet construction and that these should be built in open areas, but there was no clear guidance on materials like brick or zinc," he told Eagle FM.
Tressia Mungungu, the affected resident, said municipal police instructed her to dismantle the toilet because it was made of bricks and built on municipal land without permission.
Earlier this year, the Windhoek Observer reported that City officials ordered another Havana resident to demolish an extension to his house after deeming it poorly constructed.
City of Windhoek spokesperson Harold Akwenye confirmed to Namibian Sun that the demolished structures were deemed illegal, having been built without council approval or permits.
He said many were in areas earmarked for future infrastructure or posed safety hazards due to unregulated settlement patterns.
"As a regulated local authority, the City is obligated under the Local Authorities Act and Urban and Regional Planning Act to manage land use to avoid environmental degradation, public health risks, and service delivery constraints," Akwenye said.
Problematic precedent
"Allowing unauthorised construction - even for well-intentioned purposes like sanitation - sets a problematic precedent and complicates formal urban planning."
He acknowledged residents' frustrations and admitted that many communal toilets are in poor condition. However, he cautioned that self-built facilities often do not meet environmental or engineering standards.
"Some of these structures are built over or too close to underground services, stormwater drains, or public road reserves, creating risks for both users and the broader community. Improperly managed sanitation can lead to groundwater contamination and public health threats," he added.
Akwenye said the City is implementing incremental upgrading strategies in collaboration with stakeholders.
These include upgrades to communal toilets in prioritised areas, feasibility studies for sustainable sanitation models, and community engagement through the Participatory Informal Settlement Upgrading Framework. Mobile toilets or improved water and sanitation hubs have been introduced in some cases.
He stressed that the City encourages community involvement and continues to raise awareness about the risks of unregulated construction. "We are open to continued dialogue to ensure that residents' concerns are addressed lawfully and sustainably. While we sympathise with the challenges residents face, we must enforce the law consistently to protect public health, safety, and future development," Akwenye said.