EDITORIAL: A new mayor for Windhoek, but so what?

After months of infighting among city councillors, Windhoek finally has a new mayor. But this prolonged power struggle wasn’t driven by competing visions for serving the city’s residents. Instead, it was a tug-of-war for control over the City of Windhoek as an institution, with the needs of the people left to languish in the shadows.Last year, the opposition alliance collapsed under the weight of inflated egos, paving the way for Swapo to exploit the cracks and reclaim control of the city’s leadership, including the pivotal management committee.This year, the opposition patched things up, joined forces and ousted Swapo to restore its own dominance. But for what purpose?Will this leadership shift bring better sanitation for Windhoek’s residents? Or will those living on the city’s outskirts continue to rely on nearby bushes when nature calls, exposing themselves to the dangers of sexual predators and harsh weather?Will new mayor Ndeshihafela Larandja ensure that children in Babylon and Okahandja Park have reliable electricity to study at night? Or will flickering candles remain the only light for their fading dreams?Leadership is about using power as a tool for meaningful change, not as a trophy to flaunt. Windhoek desperately needs leaders with a clear vision and actionable plans to transform the city. It needs a mayor who prioritises the dignity and well-being of all residents, from the inner city to its most neglected fringes.The question is no longer who holds power – it is what they will do with it. The residents of Windhoek deserve more than political theatrics. They deserve a future where leadership is measured by its impact on their lives, not by its pageantry.

EDITORIAL: A new mayor for Windhoek, but so what?

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Namibian Sun 2025-06-19

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EDITORIAL: A new mayor for Windhoek, but so what?

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Namibian Sun 2025-06-19

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