309 households relocated to Havana extensions

A total of 309 households in the Moses //Garoëb constituency have been relocated to Havana Extensions 8 and 11 as the City of Windhoek intensifies efforts to formalise informal settlements and improve access to basic services.

The households have been positioned according to approved and proposed township layouts, a move the City says will improve road connectivity and provide clearer access for emergency vehicles, particularly during fires and other emergencies. The developments were highlighted during a public meeting held at the Max Mutongolume TB Clinic, where residents raised concerns about safety, water supply and other service-delivery challenges. The City said Havana Extension 8 has been approved by the Urban and Regional Planning Board, surveyed and is currently being registered at the Deeds Office.

Extension 11 has been submitted to the board for consideration. The City has also planned five townships as part of the upgrading of informal settlements in the constituency. Three townships on farms 1 028 and 1 029 have already been approved and recommended by the City Council, while environmental impact assessments have been completed for all five planned developments.

The municipality said progress is also being made in land administration and household surveying. A total of 16 588 structures has been numbered and 10 887 households surveyed.

The City has printed 7 318 certificates, of which 6 115 have been issued, and 1 500 water forms have also been distributed in the Moses //Garoëb constituency. Another major development is the allocation of land for a district hospital, which is currently under construction and is expected to bring healthcare services closer to residents.

The City said relocation, household reorganisation, mapping and digitisation are continuing in several settlements.

This includes Max Mutongolume, Kavikunua, Kambahahiza and Mandume Ndemufayo.

The City maintains that the ongoing township planning, relocation and land administration initiatives are intended to create safer, better serviced and more formally planned communities in Moses //Garoëb.

Residents of Havana have called for improvements to water, sanitation, roads and public safety as the City of Windhoek outlines infrastructure projects aimed at addressing service delivery challenges in the rapidly growing community. The concerns were raised during the City’s public engagement programme, where officials also presented plans to upgrade water and wastewater infrastructure, serving Havana and surrounding areas.

A key component of the City’s long-term infrastructure programme is the upgrading of the bulk wastewater network, which channels effluent to treatment plants.

The improved network will strengthen the movement and treatment of wastewater while supporting the City’s efforts to expand sanitation services as communities grow.

For Havana, the planned interventions include an earmarked water treatment facility and the expansion of sanitation infrastructure in Ongos Valley. These improvements will support the construction and upgrading of sanitation and make it easier to connect households and facilities to the sewer network. This helps to improve sanitation and living conditions in the community.

One of the key issues discussed was the Havana 4-Way intersection, where the completion of the Eneas Peter Nanyemba road upgrade has been brought to a standstill by outstanding relocation matters. Residents also raised concerns about the road leading to Ongos Valley, where they called for speed humps due to safety risks, particularly with two schools located near the busy road as well as the expansion of the taxi rank towards Ongos Valley and additional CCTV cameras to strengthen safety.

However, the City remains committed to engaging its residents, identifying practical solutions and improving services across Windhoek.

-ehakaala@nepc.com.na