Walvis mayor shares updates on roads, housing, infrastructure

Walvis Bay mayor Johannes Shimbilinga has provided an update on several ongoing road, housing and infrastructure projects across the harbour town.

Regarding roads, Shimbilinga said the municipality entered into a memorandum of understanding with the Road Fund Administration (RFA), placing the projects outside the council’s capital budget.

Roadworks on Third Street and Allen Dean Martin Street have been completed and are open to traffic, he noted.

Sewer replacement on Third Street East is nearing completion, after which roadworks will resume.

Construction on Railway Street is underway and expected to be completed by March, the mayor said.

Intersections at Ben Amathila and Muldurene streets have been completed, while work at the Ben Amathila and Johannes Nampala Street intersection is nearing completion. Construction has also commenced in the light industrial area along Hidipo Hamutenya Drive. Interim maintenance has been completed on Hanna Mupetami Road from Diaz Circle to the railway crossing.

Shimbilinga added that several roads are included in council’s capital budget.

Designs for Sam Nujoma Avenue have been completed, with the construction bid expected to be advertised in February, starting with the section between Johnson Fwafwa Mabakeng Street and Rikumbi Kandanga Road. Consultants are finalising inception reports for Independence Road, Nangolo Mbumba Drive and Nathaniel Maxuilili Avenue, after which surveys and design work will commence.

Land development

Under land development, Shimbilinga said 233 houses valued at N$37 million were completed at Farm 37 with government support.

The project is awaiting internal services, with the internal water and sewer bid having been readvertised and the outcome pending.

Water supply designs are being finalised in consultation with NamWater, while sewer pond designs are complete and set to be advertised.

At Portion 10, the internal water reticulation bid is currently under evaluation, while Narraville Extension One Phase 1 is nearing completion and Phase 2 is set to be advertised.

Infrastructure

Several building projects are also progressing across the town.

The EU-funded Independence Beach Promenade project, implemented in partnership with the City of Czerwonak at a cost of N$12 million, is 97% complete, with budget provision made for Phase 2.

Ekutu Market Phase 2, valued at N$3.3 million, has been completed.

Structural repair bids for Kuisebmond Community Hall will be advertised soon, while repairs to the Narraville Club House, valued at N$364 981, are underway. Construction at Kuisebmond Stadium has been completed, with minor handrail work outstanding.

Infrastructure projects currently underway include the replacement of floodlights at Jan Wilken Stadium, construction of ablution facilities at playparks and People’s Park, and upgrades to Kuisebmond informal trading stalls.

Boundary wall projects at Narraville Cemetery and Narraville Sports Stadium are at various bidding stages, while the conversion of the Tutaleni fire station is set to be advertised.

A new donor-funded fire station at Farm 37 is in the design phase. Council is also procuring waste-management vehicles for Farm 37, expected by March 2026.

Additional projects include sewer upgrades across several areas, a new wastewater treatment plant in the planning phase, and a bulk water pipeline from Mile 7 to Walvis Bay, with design completion anticipated by January 2027.