Residents of Windhoek, Namibia's capital, are growing increasingly frustrated with the City Council's inability to address pressing issues affecting their daily lives. The council's meetings have been criticized for spending disproportionate amounts of time on procedural matters, such as confirming and approving minutes, while petitions and motions dealing directly with residents' problems remain unresolved or do not appear on the council agenda. This has led to concerns that the council is not fulfilling its constitutional and statutory responsibilities.
Petitions submitted by residents are an important democratic channel for raising complaints and requesting intervention from the local authority. However, there are concerns that these petitions are not being properly processed. According to Rule 11 of the Council Standing Rules, a petition may be submitted by a council member to the chief executive officer, properly motivated, placed on the agenda of the next Management Committee meeting, considered by the Management Committee, and eventually reported to the council. Residents are entitled to know the status of their petitions, including whether they were formally received, placed on the relevant agenda, and referred to the Management Committee.
The public has also expressed concerns about motions not reaching a decision. A motion is a proposal placed before council for debate and decision, which may call for an investigation, policy change, or direct action by the municipal administration. Councillor Maitjituavi Kavetu tabled two motions at the ordinary council meeting of 27 June 2025, one concerning land-ownership concerns raised by Shack Dwellers Federation groups, and the other seeking a review and amendment of residential-erven lease agreements in several settlements. Both motions were referred to the Management Committee, but the public is yet to know the outcome.
The Local Authorities Act, 1992, gives local authority councils substantial responsibilities, including the provision and maintenance of basic services such as water, sewerage, and housing schemes. The council is not merely a body that approves minutes; it is the political authority responsible for making decisions on behalf of residents and overseeing the administration of the municipality. Section 30 of the Local Authorities Act provides the legal foundation for many of these municipal functions.
The chief executive officer is responsible for administering the affairs of the local authority and implementing council decisions, subject to the control and direction of council. This division of responsibility is important, as the council must debate and decide, while the administration must investigate, advise, implement, and report. Neither side should be permitted to use procedure or committee structures to avoid accountability.
Standing rules are necessary to protect order, fairness, and consistency in council proceedings, but they should not become a shield against doing the work. If council meetings spend hours debating how minutes should be confirmed while pressing matters remain outside the agenda, the institution risks confusing procedure with performance. The real test is whether residents' concerns are converted into decisions, budgets, projects, policies, and measurable improvements.
The Management Committee plays an important role in preparing matters for council, but it must be accountable to the public. The committee may examine petitions, motions, reports, and proposals before making recommendations to the full council. However, there are concerns that the committee is not functioning effectively, leading to a backlog of unresolved issues. The public deserves to know what is happening to their petitions and motions, and the council must take steps to address these concerns.
Key points
- The Windhoek City Council's procedural paralysis is affecting its ability to address pressing issues affecting residents' daily lives.
- Petitions and motions are not being properly processed, leading to concerns about accountability and transparency.
- The council must take steps to address these concerns and ensure that it is fulfilling its constitutional and statutory responsibilities.
