‘It’s no gimmick’
Windhoek’s new mayor says the council is committed to intensifying efforts to find solutions for residents.
OGONE TLHAGE
New Windhoek mayor Fransina Kahungu has moved her office to the Babylon informal settlement, saying this will put her in touch with the city’s residents.
The move prompted questions on whether this was a gimmick, given that her political party Swapo had lost 14 parliamentary seats in last year’s National Assembly election, with the party expected to face a battle royal in the upcoming local and regional authority polls.
The Affirmative Repositioning (AR) will also be contesting in the Windhoek election, with its leader Job Amupanda gunning for the mayor post.
Kahungu’s office is now at the Nathaniel Maxuilili community centre.
This sees Kahungu break tradition with previous mayors who opted to keep their offices at the municipality’s head office in the central business district.
“I will never do something just to impress if I know that it is not from the bottom of my heart and if it is not for the benefit of other people. Bringing the office this side has nothing to do with votes. It has something to do with my theme, which I said was taking deliberate but cautious action to deliver services to all residents of Windhoek,” she said.
Kahungu said the council is committed to intensifying efforts to find solutions for the city’s residents.
“One of the approaches the council has embraced is the need for councillors to be more visibly among the electorate. We believe that this approach will not only enable us as councillors to assess, by direct observation, the needs of our residents, but will also enable us to engage residents continuously,” she said.
Kahungu also said she would share the council’s development plan, which is yet to be finalised, in due course.
She takes over from former city mayor Muesee Kazapua. Kahungu is a teacher by profession and taught at Olaf Palme Primary School.
New Windhoek mayor Fransina Kahungu has moved her office to the Babylon informal settlement, saying this will put her in touch with the city’s residents.
The move prompted questions on whether this was a gimmick, given that her political party Swapo had lost 14 parliamentary seats in last year’s National Assembly election, with the party expected to face a battle royal in the upcoming local and regional authority polls.
The Affirmative Repositioning (AR) will also be contesting in the Windhoek election, with its leader Job Amupanda gunning for the mayor post.
Kahungu’s office is now at the Nathaniel Maxuilili community centre.
This sees Kahungu break tradition with previous mayors who opted to keep their offices at the municipality’s head office in the central business district.
“I will never do something just to impress if I know that it is not from the bottom of my heart and if it is not for the benefit of other people. Bringing the office this side has nothing to do with votes. It has something to do with my theme, which I said was taking deliberate but cautious action to deliver services to all residents of Windhoek,” she said.
Kahungu said the council is committed to intensifying efforts to find solutions for the city’s residents.
“One of the approaches the council has embraced is the need for councillors to be more visibly among the electorate. We believe that this approach will not only enable us as councillors to assess, by direct observation, the needs of our residents, but will also enable us to engage residents continuously,” she said.
Kahungu also said she would share the council’s development plan, which is yet to be finalised, in due course.
She takes over from former city mayor Muesee Kazapua. Kahungu is a teacher by profession and taught at Olaf Palme Primary School.
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