Renthia Kaimbi
More than 990 bags of rubbish were collected in Walvis Bay, after community members, businesses, volunteers, and municipal teams joined forces for the first Mayoral Clean Up Campaign two weeks ago.
Led by Walvis Bay mayor Johannes Shimbilinga, the coordinated day transformed public spaces across the coastal town, with clean-up activities focused mainly in Kuisebmond, Narraville, and the town centre.
Held in observance of World Biodiversity Day and under the global theme “Acting Locally for Global Impact,” the campaign began at Tutaleni High School before participants dispersed to designated areas.
Addressing volunteers, Shimbilinga emphasised that the initiative represented more than a once-off exercise.
“This Mayoral Clean Up is not simply about picking up rubbish; it is about restoring dignity to our public spaces, protecting the plants and animals that share our environment, and inspiring others to follow our lead,” he said.
The Mayor thanked corporate partners, sponsors, and municipal teams, encouraging residents to continue reducing waste, reusing materials, and helping to protect local biodiversity.
The clean-up campaign comes amid growing public frustration over the town’s sanitation and waste management challenges.
Earlier this year, more than 4,500 residents signed a petition titled “Demand Urgent Municipal Reform in Walvis Bay,” accusing the local authority of fostering hazardous living conditions through systemic neglect.
According to the petition, residents have complained of inconsistent street cleaning and unreliable rubbish removal, leaving piles of waste to accumulate in neighbourhoods.
In the informal settlements, a lack of adequate toilet facilities has reportedly forced some residents to resort to open defecation by the roadside, which petitioners described as “an affront to human dignity.”
Motorists have also faced hazardous conditions on pothole-riddled roads, leading to vehicle damage and safety risks.
In addition, residents claimed the municipality’s practice of burning rubbish at the local dump generates toxic plumes of smoke that blanket surrounding areas, harming health and creating unbearable living conditions.
The petition further accused the municipality of failing to communicate plans, budgets, or progress on service delivery.
Residents demanded regular street cleaning, reliable rubbish removal, an immediate halt to dump burning, urgent provision of adequate toilet facilities in informal settlements, repair of roads, and a commitment to public sharing of action timelines.
The municipality responded by hosting consultation meetings with residents in town, as well as in the Narraville and Kuisebmund communities to address the issues.
Despite the ongoing challenges, Shimbilinga described the clean-up campaign as a positive first step, adding that lasting environmental change depends on continued personal responsibility and community participation.
