EDITORIAL: Windhoek’s trigger-happy leadership recycle must end
Windhoek has seen an astonishing turnover of mayors in the past five years: Job Amupanda, Sade Gawanas, Joseph Uapingene, Queen Kamati, and Ndeshihafela Larandja – a new mayor every year.
This revolving door of leadership is a serious governance problem. A city cannot find its rhythm when its highest office changes hands with such alarming regularity.
Policies are started and abandoned midstream, strategic projects stall and the very institutions meant to serve residents are left in disarray. Citizens are left wondering whether their voices even matter when the people they elect to lead are shuffled like chess pieces every November.
The root of this instability lies not only in the calibre of the individuals but also in the legislation that forces internal elections annually.
Under this law, councillors elected by the public are tasked with choosing a mayor and a management committee from among themselves.
Crucially, it is not only the mayoralty that is disrupted – every November, the City’s management committee is also reshuffled. This adds an additional layer of instability, as entire teams of decision-makers are swapped out just as they begin to understand their roles, forge working relationships, and implement policy initiatives. It is a system that rewards short-term politicking over long-term planning.
If the intention behind mid-term elections is to ensure accountability, there are better ways to achieve it without jeopardising continuity.
Allowing Windhoek’s leadership a proper term in office – at least several years – would give mayors and management committees the breathing space needed to make meaningful decisions, execute development plans and respond effectively to the city’s challenges. Mid-term elections, if truly necessary, could be scheduled once within a five-year cycle, rather than forcing a constant reshuffle that benefits no one.
This revolving door of leadership is a serious governance problem. A city cannot find its rhythm when its highest office changes hands with such alarming regularity.
Policies are started and abandoned midstream, strategic projects stall and the very institutions meant to serve residents are left in disarray. Citizens are left wondering whether their voices even matter when the people they elect to lead are shuffled like chess pieces every November.
The root of this instability lies not only in the calibre of the individuals but also in the legislation that forces internal elections annually.
Under this law, councillors elected by the public are tasked with choosing a mayor and a management committee from among themselves.
Crucially, it is not only the mayoralty that is disrupted – every November, the City’s management committee is also reshuffled. This adds an additional layer of instability, as entire teams of decision-makers are swapped out just as they begin to understand their roles, forge working relationships, and implement policy initiatives. It is a system that rewards short-term politicking over long-term planning.
If the intention behind mid-term elections is to ensure accountability, there are better ways to achieve it without jeopardising continuity.
Allowing Windhoek’s leadership a proper term in office – at least several years – would give mayors and management committees the breathing space needed to make meaningful decisions, execute development plans and respond effectively to the city’s challenges. Mid-term elections, if truly necessary, could be scheduled once within a five-year cycle, rather than forcing a constant reshuffle that benefits no one.
Comments
Namibian Sun
No comments have been left on this article