Martin Endjala
The City of Windhoek is in the hands of women after the election of Ndeshihafela Laranja of the Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) as the mayor, while PDM councillor Clemencia Hanases was chosen as the deputy mayor.
Ilse Keister, an Affirmative Repositioning (AR) councillor, was elected as the chairperson of the management committee.
Laranja secured nine out of 12 votes during the elections held on Tuesday, defeating Swapo councillor Austin Kwenani, who received three votes.
Laranja, in her acceptance speech, pledged to serve with integrity and work collaboratively with all councillors to prioritise essential services like water supply and infrastructure development.
“I will work in unity with all councillors and work towards the supply of water and infrastructures for the benefit of our people,” she said.
She added that the year 2025 marks a pivotal moment as the council finds itself just halfway through its 2022-2027 strategic period.
During this period, she notes that the council has put forth an ambitious array of objectives on which it already reported to the council meeting.
Laranja assured the public that her office will target consistent stakeholder engagements and inclusive, meaningful public participation.
“I will ensure that adequate funds are obtained for the financial sustainability of its set initiatives,” she said.
Deputy mayor Hanases implored the council to put aside their differences and work in unison and harmony for the betterment of the residents.
“We must put aside our fights and focus on working together and building a strong team that will deliver on the plight of the Namibian people. These fights will take us nowhere,” she implored.
Political analyst Sacky Johannes has expressed no surprise at the election of three women to leadership positions within the Windhoek City Council, citing the country’s population demographics, where women outnumber men.
“This is a challenge to women to show that they are capable of leading and delivering,” he said.
He added that men should be taught to work effectively with empowered women and not feel threatened by their leadership roles.
The likes of IPC councillors Jurgen Hecht, Araeb Bernadus, Swapo councillor Fransina Kahungu and Nudo councillor Joseph Uapingene were elected as members of the management committee.
AR Job Amupanda and LPM’s Ivan Skryver, Sade Gawanas and Swapo’s Sam Nujoma, and IPC’s Ottilie Saarty Uukule are ordinary council members.
Since Amupanda is not a civil servant, he does not have to resign from the council before entering parliament.
The councillors’ term ends on the date of local authority elections slated for November.
If elections do not take place, their office term will expire on 1 December according to the presiding magistrate.
The elections of office bearers took place on Tuesday after last year’s postponement due to lack of quorum.
Magistrate Immanuel Udjombala presided over the proceedings.
