Windhoek: In contrast to previous elections, which featured 13 political parties competing for leadership in the capital's council chambers, this year's elections have seen 18 political parties and associations vying for dominance at the City of Windhoek. The council, which holds the most seats (15) among the 59 local authorities, will have over 200 candidates competing for positions in the municipal chambers.
According to Namibia Press Agency, Windhoek has a total of 255,288 registered voters prepared to cast their ballots on 26 November, representing 78 percent of registered voters from a total of 329,237 eligible voters. In the last elections, the ruling Swapo Party lost its control of the city council after losing seven seats due to the rise of the Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) and Affirmative Repositioning (AR), which led to the formation of a coalition among opposition parties.
The last elections saw Swapo gain five seats, IPC four, and both the Landless People's Movement and AR gain two each, while the Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) and the National Unity Democratic Organisation (NUDO) each gained one. The City now finds itself at a crossroads, presenting a true test for those who will govern the council for the next five years, as its citizens continue to struggle with poverty, a high unemployment rate, and issues related to housing, water, and electricity.
Political commentator, Natjirikasorua Tjirera, told Nampa that Windhoek's political policies need to be responsive to the challenges that come with a fast-growing city. Tjirera also challenged those competing for the city's council to reduce the exorbitant allowances given to city councillors and invest the bulk of the city's budget in the provision of services to the electorate and not to the top managers. According to Tjirera, the city needs selfless and courageous leaders who are sufficiently educated to make informed decisions.
Tjirera believes that having 18 parties competing for 15 seats is excessive, noting that it reflects a lack of trust in conventional political parties and a perception that political positions are vehicles for luxurious lifestyles. Tjirera also highlighted that a coalition might be on the cards again and expressed hope that parties would discuss their offerings to the electorate before forming coalitions.
Social commentator, Sam Kauapirura, said that for Windhoek to succeed in mitigating its ongoing challenges, it requires skilled leaders who can effectively network and navigate the corridors of power to secure funding and opportunities that will improve and deliver services for the city. He also mentioned that if there were to be another coalition government, it could potentially fail, citing historical performance.
According to political analyst, Ndumba Kamwanyah, Windhoek needs practical leaders with the will to mitigate the current challenges faced by citizens instead of fighting each other. Kamwanyah emphasized the importance of leaders who can work in cohesion with the community and who are capable of planning long-term solutions for the city's challenges.
With 18 parties and associations competing, Kamwanyah said the vote will likely be spread out again, making another coalition the most likely outcome. The parties and associations competing for the council seats include Swapo, IPC, AR, LPM, Nudo, PDM, Swanu, Namibia Economic Freedom Fighters, the United Democratic Front, United Namibians Party, Republican Party of Namibia, Rally for Democracy and Progress, People Centred Development Association, National Empowerment Fighting Corruption, Namibia Progressive Party, All People's Party, Body of Christ, and the Association of Localised Interest.