Patience Makwele
Otavi residents have accused the town council of failing to deliver basic services. Residents say the town council is failing to provide proper sanitation, water access and street lighting. They also complained about poor infrastructure in residential areas and dark streets caused by a lack of high mast lights.
The complaints emerged during the Otavi Municipality’s public consultation meeting on the proposed 2026/2027 budget, where residents questioned why many basic services remain unresolved despite years of complaints.
Several community members said the town’s open market still lacks proper public toilets, forcing vendors and shoppers to operate under poor conditions.
Others pointed to insufficient high mast lights and limited water points in some areas, saying the lack of services exposes residents to safety and health risks.
Some residents also accused the municipality of focusing on plans and proposals while communities continue struggling with daily challenges.
Otavi acting chief executive officer Heita Shikeenga said some projects depend on partnerships with outside stakeholders.
“Our developmental partner, which is B2Gold, wants to construct an open market for the town this year. An area has already been identified, and we are now waiting for the memorandum of understanding to be signed,” Shikeenga said.
He stated that the municipality would gain clarity on the project’s cost and implementation only after finalising the agreement.
“That is why the project was not included in the budget at this stage because the agreement has not yet been signed,” he said.
The municipality has proposed a capital and development budget of N$88 million for the 2026/2027 financial year while keeping tariffs unchanged.
Political analyst Israel Shivute said residents often lose confidence in local authorities when they do not see visible improvements in their communities.
“People judge local authorities based on the services they interact with every day. If streets remain dark, markets lack toilets and water access is limited, residents begin to feel excluded from development,” Shivute said.
He emphasised the importance of councils enhancing their communication with communities regarding project delays and funding limitations to dispel the notion that nothing is happening.
Urban and local governance commentator Hennie Gert Gerhardus said many municipalities across Namibia are struggling with infrastructure backlogs, ageing systems and weak revenue collection.
“Many councils are struggling with infrastructure backlogs, ageing systems and limited revenue collection. But residents still expect tangible improvements because basic services are not a luxury; they are essential,” Gerhardus said.
He said delays in service delivery projects could deepen public frustration if communities continue feeling ignored.
