Windhoek community activists question 4% municipal tariff increase

Allexer Namundjembo

Community activists Shaun Gariseb and Sem David have questioned the City of Windhoek’s decision to implement a 4% increase in municipal tariffs, arguing that residents should not be expected to pay more while many communities continue to face inadequate basic services.

The activists contend that tariff increases should be accompanied by visible improvements in service delivery, particularly in informal settlements where access to sanitation, water and waste management remains a persistent challenge.

Gariseb, who recently visited Mix Settlement, said conditions at the area’s communal sanitation facilities highlight the city’s broader infrastructure shortcomings.

“Windhoek faces a dual challenge of aging municipal infrastructure and severe sanitation gaps in informal settlements,” Gariseb said.

According to him, the settlement’s three sanitation hubs are operating beyond their intended capacity despite residents making efforts to maintain the facilities.