New Okahandja mayor pledges to restore trust and improve service delivery
“United we serve: A new dawn for the Garden Town”
Newly elected Okahandja mayor, Ileni Mutumbulwa, has pledged to restore trust, unity and accountability in the Garden Town, saying her leadership marks a new chapter focused on inclusive development and improved service delivery. Mutumbulwa was sworn in together with newly elected councillors on Friday(12 December) during a ceremony held in Okahandja. In her inaugural address, she said she was deeply humbled by the confidence placed in her. “This new chapter is about restoring the spirit and trust that was lost by not fully including the Okahandja community in the development process of our town,” Mutumbulwa said. “I accept this mandate with gratitude and humility and with a firm commitment to work for the well-being of every member of our community.”She highlighted key challenges facing the town, including service delivery backlogs, youth unemployment, safety concerns, housing shortages and limited economic opportunities. Despite these challenges, Mutumbulwa expressed confidence that progress can be achieved through collective effort. “Our community faces real challenges, but together we can build a town where fairness, transparency and accountability prevail,” she said.
Addressing fellow councillors, the mayor stressed that the campaign period was over and called for unity and cooperation. “The campaign season is over; the work begins now,” she said. “We must put our differences aside and focus on service delivery. Our people need better housing, water installation in various informal settlements, and a clean Okahandja through the placement of skip bins at strategic points.”
Mutumbulwa also called on business partners, traditional leaders and residents to work closely with the council, describing them as essential partners in improving living standards in the town.
“We need each other in running this council. United we can achieve our goals; divided we will fail,” she said. She placed particular emphasis on the role of young people, describing them as central to development and job creation in Okahandja.
Outlining her leadership approach, Mutumbulwa promised integrity, humility and inclusivity. “I will lead with integrity and humility. I will be a listener, not just a talker, and I will push a development agenda that benefits everyone, not personal interests,” she said.
Presiding over the ceremony, Okahandja Magistrate Masule Kwizi reminded the newly sworn-in councillors and mayor that their responsibility is to serve the community rather than political interests. He urged them to work as a united council for the benefit of Okahandja and its residents.
In closing, Mutumbulwa thanked residents once again for their trust and expressed hope that the spirit of Ubuntu would guide the town’s future.
“It is my wish that the spirit of Ubuntu prevails in Okahandja,” she said. “May God bless our Garden Town. I am ready to serve.”
She also wished residents a Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year as the council prepares to begin its work in 2026.
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