Lüderitz chocking on waste

The mayor of Lüderitz, Phillippus Balhao, has strongly criticised the town council for its failure to address the severe environmental and health hazards posed by inadequate waste management practices. According to Balhao, there is a blatant “lack of adherence” to health and environmental regulations, which are supposedly enforced on residents and investors but neglected by authorities.



Balhao accused the ministry of environment of ignoring the situation. “They are allowing the release of untreated affluent from a non-functioning bacterial wastewater treatment plant as well as litter from an unmanaged (and most definitely a) landfill site that does not meet any national requirements to exist,” he stated in a post on his social media page.

He added that this situation has persisted for the past four years, describing it as unacceptable.



“For too long, we have encouraged silence and victimized those who spoke out. Even if the social media method hasn't always delivered results, it's almost always reached the intended eyes of those in positions able to address these concerns and who have otherwise not been accessible,” Balhao argued.



The mayor highlighted that the problem of waste and litter blowing into the Tsau Kheib National Park and surrounding areas has escalated to unimaginable levels. “The environmental impact this has on our surroundings is unquantifiable. We are constantly told to protect the image of the institution we serve and that we need to follow the right channels. Whatever the excuse might be, I don't want to hear it anymore,” he declared.



Balhao also criticised the local authority for being managed like a “tuckshop”, citing untreated effluent flowing into the ocean and small-scale agricultural projects using the same untreated water. “There is simply no adherence to Namibian waste management practices and we have already spent close to N$1 million in legal fees for enforcing health practices with zero self-regulation,” he revealed.



The mayor pointed out that the landfill site is located outside the town boundaries, within the Sperrgebiet and Tsau ||Khieb National Park, which he described as a clear sign of the inadequacy of the Lüderitz Town Council administration. He noted that areas north of the landfill are covered in litter for “miles and miles.”



“I didn't get photos of the full extent of the litter today, but it's worth capturing as undeniable evidence of the immense scale of the environmental damages,” Balhao said. He also mentioned that the road to Agathe Beach is in a deplorable state and the valley behind Area 7 towards the Ombepo wind farm is littered as far as the eye can see.



He called on the ministry of environment to intervene immediately. “It's high time you put a stop to this. Lüderitz is being turned into a dumpsite and the town council should be held accountable for the damage to the environment. The lack of accountability needs to change. This is gross negligence,” he stressed.



Balhao mentioned that he had proposed a joint venture solution through a motion, but it was ignored. Additionally, a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the University of Magdeburg in Germany for waste management expertise has not been actioned.



In response to Balhao’s social media post, Yvonne Amiss-Albertse, a Lüderitz resident, expressed her frustration at the waste problem. “Count me in for a big cleanup. Everyone is supposed to do their part, our town needs the support. We can do cleanups every third month,” she suggested.