City of uncertainty and confusion
The political parties that constitute the City of Windhoek local authority council are not effectively organized. The paradoxes of parties in Namibian politics are everywhere, but perhaps the greatest paradox is that of the so-called progressive forces.
The various coalitions have turned Windhoek into a laughingstock. The City of Windhoek is without a chief executive, and until Thursday without a mayor and management committee. To be accepted and followed as a leader, however, it is also necessary to have a clear vision that is always upheld, no matter what happens. And this is a quality that is lacking in City of Windhoek. So, it is time for visionary leaders to stand up and be counted. They should work for the uniform development of the city by rising above party lines and political affiliations. They owe it to the voters. Everything can change tomorrow and the trick is to move with it without losing sight of the vision. An effective leader focuses on the goal and is at all times prepared to put up with all the associated bumps and obstacles on the way to that goal.
Windhoek is now Babylon. The city of confusion. In every part where leaders without public interest at heart reigns. Which knoweth not the order and unity of the spirit but strives to set up an order and uniformity according to the wisdom of the flesh.
The City of Windhoek needs a reboot for the overwhelmingly negative trend to be arrested, and this requires capable and honest leadership. It is just not fair to the people of Windhoek to have such a chaotic situation. The failure of the City of Windhoek governing coalition does not only affect residents negatively but also crushes any hope for cooperation on a national level. The management committee members need to be sensitised on putting society interest first and committing to development visions and programmes. This is an unhealthy political situation that requires an urgent resolution of issues pertaining to the functioning of the city council for the benefit of the residents of Windhoek. The varying ideological positions of parties in a coalition could be the cause of this. So far, parties have not demonstrated a common policy position that would formalise their coalition deals. Instead, they have experienced unending interparty wrangles over crucial policy issues, often leading to political fights among themselves. Municipal failure has an impact on households, small, medium and micro-enterprises and other investors in local economy. Economic growth, job creation and local economic development initiatives depend on the City of Windhoek. The business sectors become constrained when the City of Windhoek failed to function well. Households directly suffer the consequences when basic service delivery is poor.
It is important to understand the role that the other spheres of City of Windhoek management must play to help cure the problems. Set aside the political battles, political agenda and personal ambitions and work together for the people of Windhoek. In a worstcase scenario, the City of Windhoek can be put under administration. This means that for a limited period, the particular line ministry takes over the running of the City of Windhoek in order to solve the critical problems that prevent it from functioning properly. It’s a very drastic measure and should only be used sparingly since it interferes with the constitutional mandate of an elected City of Windhoek council.
The lack of vision and inefficiency of the political leadership in City of Windhoek has resulted in the decline in service delivery in the city. There has been total lack of quality leadership in the whole country and not just in the City of Windhoek. The magnitude of this failure is astonishing.
What needs to be done to improve economic growth in City of Windhoek?
City of Windhoek needs to create plans for growth, be open to change and get a variety of stakeholders to participate in these plans. The leaders should identify areas with the most growth potential and invest in them in a way that attracts people and businesses. It’s easy to become complacent when the revenue is flowing in. You begin to rely on that fixed income stream and you’re more reluctant to tackle fresh opportunities. It is important that the City of Windhoek paying particular attention to levers and considerations that will enhance the financial and economic viability of the City of Windhoek. In the City of Windhoek, one of the cornerstones of successful, continued service delivery is systemic discipline.
This implies effective revenue management, which includes timely debt collection, regular payment of suppliers and a well-structured and managed repairs and maintenance plan for the infrastructure.
But to do this effectively and efficiently, appropriate financial management capacity is required. Where the City of Windhoek lacks this, creative use of shared services between municipalities could be used. And private sector expertise to help improve financial management and audit outcomes should also be part of the solution.
Accountability is one of the fundamental principles of the country’s constitutional democracy. Good quality financial statements and annual reports are necessary to ensure that accountability and transparency are achieved.
I urge the line minister to play his role as the responsible person. If you fail to do so, the community will be angry and take matters into their own hands. Furthermore, people have lost hope in the City of Windhoek through its leaders. The City of Windhoek has been turned upside down by the chaotic situation. We want people who will bring us service today not tomorrow.
Turning the situation around will require a delicate dance among all political leaders, who must drive the change. One cannot happen without the other, but the former clearly leads the latter.
Therefore, an effective revenue administration that implements well-informed policies and raises sufficient revenues to fund infrastructure development and basic service provision is crucial for City of Windhoek. Hence, revive and safeguard.