Interview: Social Justice Activists Condemn Dysfunction at City of Windhoek

The City of Windhoek has come under fire from social justice activists Rinaani Musutua and Herbert Jauch, who criticized the city for its failure to improve living conditions and properly manage funds for informal settlements.

Rinaani Musutua described the city as the “most dysfunctional” in the country due to its failure to access funds aimed at upgrading informal settlements. She expressed frustration at the lack of service delivery, accusing city executives of receiving salaries without meaningful contributions. “We cannot live with a dysfunctional institution that does nothing. People are getting paid for doing absolutely nothing,” Musutua said.

She highlighted the dire situation in squatter camps, which have been declared a humanitarian crisis, calling for urgent action to improve living conditions. “It’s unbelievable that the city has not treated the upgrading of these settlements seriously. Something drastic must be done,” she added. Musutua also called on the Minister of Urban and Rural Development to intervene, stressing the importance of a functional city administration that serves its residents effectively.

Echoing similar concerns, Herbert Jauch condemned the city’s bureaucratic failures after it lost N$750 million intended for informal settlement upgrades. “The news that the City of Windhoek lost 750 million Namibian dollars is indeed shocking. It reflects a bureaucracy that simply doesn’t care about the plight of the poor,” Jauch said.

He criticized the lack of urgency and accountability, stating that the negligence resulting in the lost funds is “despicable” and unacceptable. “There’s simply no excuse for that. Bureaucrats and maybe even councillors show absolute disregard for inhabitants, particularly those in low-income areas,” Jauch added.

Both activists are calling for immediate reforms to ensure accountability, proper administration, and urgent attention to improve housing and living conditions for Windhoek residents.