Walvis Bay Mayor Cllr Johannes Shimbilinga highlighted several important developments for the town during the Council Meeting.
Addressing councillors, municipal officials and members of the media, the mayor spoke about youth opportunities, housing, infrastructure improvements, road repairs and keeping Walvis Bay clean. He said the municipality remains focused on creating opportunities for residents, especially young people, while continuing to improve service delivery across the town. “Creating opportunities for our people, particularly our youth, remains central to our vision for Walvis Bay,” said Shimbilinga.
Youth opportunities remain a priority
Mayor Shimbilinga said the municipality received a strong response to recent public calls for applications. The internship programme, which closed on 24 April 2026, received 899 applications, while the temporary employment opportunity, which closed on 30 June 2026, received 465 applications. “These applications will now be processed and incorporated into the Council’s human resources database so that we can build a comprehensive talent pool and ensure fair and transparent consideration as opportunities arise,” he said. The mayor thanked everyone who applied and encouraged municipal departments to make use of the database when recruiting in the future.
Walvis Bay selected for Youth Climate Action Fund
The mayor also announced that Walvis Bay has been selected as one of 300 cities worldwide to participate in the Youth Climate Action Fund. The initiative supports youth-led climate sustainability projects and focuses on young people between the ages of 15 and 24. Walvis Bay is the only Namibian town selected for this international opportunity. “We strongly encourage youth-led organisations, institutions and individual young people to apply,” said Shimbilinga. “Participation offers our youth a platform to design and deliver practical local climate solutions.”
Partnership to create housing opportunities
The municipality has entered a partnership with Development Workshop Namibia to speed up land delivery and create more affordable housing opportunities in Walvis Bay. The partnership, through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), follows a council resolution adopted in April 2026. The project will focus on the development of Portion No. 15 Green Valley, Green Valley Extension 5 and Portion No. 17 Narraville.
Development Workshop Namibia will be responsible for developing the land and installing infrastructure services, while the land will remain the property of the Municipality of Walvis Bay. The project is expected to provide around 1 100 residential erven. “The partnership seeks to create opportunities for low- and middle-income households to access serviced residential erven while supporting the sustainable growth and development of our town,” the mayor said.
N$12.5 million investment in sewer services
Mayor Shimbilinga said the municipality has invested N$12.5 million in two specialised sewer trucks to improve sewer maintenance and service delivery. The vehicles, supplied by Hino and Pupkewitz, are equipped with specialised systems designed for sewer cleaning and maintenance work. “The acquisition of these specialised vehicles will significantly strengthen our sewer network cleaning programme and support ongoing maintenance activities,” he said. The municipality aims to reduce sewer blockages and overflows while improving the reliability of the town’s sewer system.
Road repairs continue across town
The municipality also provided an update on ongoing road maintenance and rehabilitation projects. The appointed contractor, DJJ Investment CC JV Ehangano Building Construction CC, is currently carrying out pothole repairs and routine maintenance across Walvis Bay with three active teams. Work is currently taking place in Narraville, 6th Road and Nangolo Mbumba Drive, while road resealing has started in Kabeljou Street in Kuisebmond. Through a partnership between the Municipality of Walvis Bay, the Roads Authority and the Road Fund Administration, rehabilitation work is continuing in the industrial area. Additional roads included under this agreement are New Western Road, Nathaniel Maxuilili Avenue and Pelican Street.
The municipality’s own road rehabilitation projects, including Sam Nujoma Avenue and Nangolo Mbumba Drive, will soon be advertised for construction. “While significant progress is being made, road repairs are being carried out in phases based on priority, available resources and contractor programmes,” said Shimbilinga. He thanked residents for their patience while the municipality continues with road improvements.
Call for residents to keep Walvis Bay clean
As the municipality enters the 2026/2027 financial year, Mayor Shimbilinga said the focus remains on delivering projects and services that will improve the lives of residents. He also thanked municipal employees receiving Long Service Recognition awards for their dedication and contribution to the town. In closing, the mayor appealed to all residents to play their part in keeping Walvis Bay clean by disposing of waste properly and avoiding littering. “A clean town is a reflection of a community that cares,” he said. “The choices we make every day affect our health, our tourism potential and our collective pride in Walvis Bay.”
By Eileen van der Schyff
