Strange but true: Windhoek’s city councillors have decided that a football team should be formed.
“When we are old, then we can remember that we established that team in 2022,” beamed the mover of the Windhoek FC project Job Amupanda. “I am very excited to see Windhoek FC become AC Milan, Real Madrid, Barcelona and all other clubs that are owned by the city.”
The coalition that toppled Swapo in a poorly managed municipality is now controlling the current city council.
If anything, service delivery has become worse –– from rubbish collection to littering to the efficiency of the bus service.
Are councillors confident that they have a good grasp of the basic challenges Windhoekans face? And that they can also turn their considerable attention and resources towards the glamour and glory associated football two years in to their five-year term?
Amupanda’s claim of political fame was a demand to housing, especially for youth.
We understand that providing housing for all is a difficult task. It’s possible to achieve adequate housing in five years under current conditions.
Is it being given any attention, such as the creation of a concrete blueprint?
There are many pressing issues beyond setting up a football team.
Windhoek, Africa’s cleanest city, was named as recently as 20 years ago. Even Katutura’s poorer areas were clean.
Hepatitis E was the most shocking confirmation that the capital of Namibia is now a dirty place. More than 60 people died in the country from the disease, and more than 8 000 were hospitalized.
The city was ravaged by hepatitis and trash became a major eyesore.
Some parts of the city have seen sporadic rubbish removal.
The occurrence of traffic lights flashing on red has become a regular occurrence.
Potholes on tarred roads are no longer a problem during the rainy season. An aged water supply system and drainage system are responsible for many potholes. It is difficult to navigate the ever-growing informal settlements.
Pie in the sky projects, such as a Windhoek FC match Barcelona, are insulting to shack voters who can’t get emergency services such a fire brigade/ambulances that residents assumed was a given not too long ago.
Amupanda and your fellow municipal leaders, it is your choice to waste breath; but if your ability to deliver on basics is not there, don’t waste ratepayer money or time trying to chase glamour and glory through a City of Windhoek-owned football club.
Fake, Chinese goods are a symptom
NAMIBIA’S tax collection agency is likely to now show off fake products valued at N$5million being destroyed.
Sam Shivute, the boss of the group, was in for a PR disaster because they underestimated the sufferings of Namibians, mainly unemployed and with low incomes.
Namra may not have learned from Namfisa’s humble pie because there aren’t enough educational campaigns to help people make informed decisions.
When important decisions are made, the most affected people are often the last to hear from them. The result is often a backlash, even though it might seem excessive.
The law will not be sufficient to address the stalemate of emotions arising from widespread poverty and rising living costs. Politicians, bureaucrats and others will soon realize that they are just adding fuel to the fire.
These protests are symptomatic of long-standing issues. To calm people who feel they have nothing left to lose, but to keep the infrastructure and services they rely on burning is a better long-term strategy.
Source: namibian
