Khomasdal residents demand better leadership

Alliance for Community Transformation (ACT) Khomasdal representative Bennie Bobeje says residents want to know exactly what candidates will deliver if elected. He said young people in the constituency are “walking around like zombies, turning to drugs and alcohol because they feel forgotten”.Bobeje made the remarks on Monday during a meeting where council candidates presented their manifestos to Khomasdal community members.He shared the example of a Donkerhoek family that faced two deaths in close succession but received only a 10 kg bag of maize meal when they sought support from the constituency office. “These are people without insurance or funeral policies,” Bobeje stressed.He added that the community no longer wants blind loyalty but meaningful leadership.Affirmative Repositioning (AR) candidate Festus Haukongo said his mission is to restore dignity in Khomasdal, including to communities living in 7de and 8ste Laan. He said every resident should feel empowered and recognised, particularly in planning and housing discussions with the City of Windhoek and other stakeholders.Haukongo said inadequate access to serviced land is forcing people to erect makeshift shacks in areas like Otjomuise and pledged to advocate for affordable housing, road upgrades, street lighting and functional drainage systems, which he said are essential elements of dignity.Addressing social ills All candidates agreed on the need for stronger anti-drug and alcohol abuse initiatives. Haukongo argued that with little positive direction, young people turn their energy to crime, contributing to rising insecurity in the constituency.Representatives from the Popular Democratic Movement (PDM), Association for Localised Interests (ASOLI), the Republican Party (RP), the AR and Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) were present at the event.Lost hopePDM’s Gabriel Augustus, who has lived in Khomasdal for 15 years, said he understands the community’s struggles first-hand. He noted that while the constituency is rich in talent, large numbers of young people remain unemployed, frustrated and without hope.He added that more than 75 000 informal settlement residents live without decent housing and questioned the visibility of the current councillor. Augustus also pledged to advocate for better public health services, saying many residents are forced to walk long distances to obtain these services, only to face long queues, understaffing and poor treatment. “We want healthcare closer to the people,” he said.Pledges The RP’s Magret Paulse, a lifelong resident, said she plans to centre her campaign on young people and the elderly. She said her vision is for a safer, cleaner and more dignified Khomasdal, with attention to the growing number of homeless residents. Paulse said she wants Bible study reintroduced in schools, an increase in 24-hour health clinics, regular home health visits for bedridden elders and structured sports programmes to provide discipline and opportunity for young people. She argued that many young people are idle because they lack facilities and options and stressed that her actions, not her words, should demonstrate her commitment.The IPC’s Caroline Dunaiski said coloured children in Namibia are often “overlooked, excluded and placed second to other tribes,” particularly in educational opportunities. She said representation and inclusion remain unequal and said the IPC has zero tolerance for tribalism or corruption. She also questioned the removal of Bible study from schools.Candidates stressed that they would maintain an open-door policy to ensure accessible leadership.

Khomasdal residents demand better leadership

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Namibian Sun 2025-11-21

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Khomasdal residents demand better leadership

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Namibian Sun 2025-11-21

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