Niël Terblanché
The much-anticipated 30-year, or Pearl Celebrations, of the Walvis Bay enclave’s reintegration into Namibia, have been unexpectedly postponed, triggering a war of words between the Office of the Governor of the Erongo Region and the Municipality of Walvis Bay.
Initially scheduled for Thursday, the celebrations have been rescheduled to 7 February 2025 due to what Governor Neville Andre described as a “political witch-hunt” and “flimsy, politically motivated undertones.”
Andre, in a public notice, expressed disappointment over the Walvis Bay Municipality’s rejection of his office’s request to use municipal facilities for the historic event.
“This decision has come as a complete surprise to us. After all our preparations, we see no tangible reason for this rejection,” he said.
He added that months of meticulous planning had gone into organising the celebrations, and the sudden decision had left service providers and logistics in limbo, adding to the financial strain.
Despite these challenges, the governor assured residents of the region that the celebrations will proceed as planned in February.
The governor further stated that his office remains steadfast in its commitment to honouring this significant milestone in Namibia’s history.
“We sincerely appreciate the continued support and understanding of residents while we navigate this unexpected challenge,” he said.
Andre said that with the new date set for February, there is hope that the Pearl Celebrations will proceed without further obstacles that would represent the shared pride of all Namibians in Walvis Bay’s journey over the past 30 years.
Walvis Bay was returned to Namibia by South Africa on 28 February 1994.
The Walvis Bay Municipality has denied allegations of bias or political interference, instead citing logistical constraints as the reason for rejecting the governor’s request.
The municipality maintained that its stance was not politically motivated and that the rejection was purely logistical.
The municipality clarified that a letter from the governor’s office, dated 4 November, requested a list of municipal halls for events related to the celebrations.
“By that time, the halls were already fully booked and paid for, making it logistically impossible to accommodate the governor’s request,” the response reads.
The municipality also noted that the letter requested the use of a hall to host a luncheon for senior citizens and former mayors.
Additionally, the local authority stated that the fundraising gala dinner, set for Thursday evening, was scheduled to take place at the Walvis Bay Lagoon, not in any municipal facility.
In light of these constraints, the municipality suggested the use of Kuisebmond Stadium for sports, children’s activities, and entertainment free of charge.
The local authority added that the proposal has yet to be deliberated in an upcoming council meeting.
“We remain committed to supporting initiatives that celebrate our town’s history and progress while ensuring our contributions remain within practical and feasible means,” the municipality said.
