Queen Kamati Elected as the New Mayor of Windhoek

Staff Reporter

QUEEN Kamati of the Swapo party has been elected as the new Mayor of the City of Windhoek, while Joseph Uapingene of NUDO was also elected as the deputy mayor.

Kamati received six votes for the position, while the PDM councillor, Clemencia Hanases, received five votes. Sade Gawanas, LPM councillor, elected councillor Clemencia Hanases of PDM for the position of mayor. This was seconded by AR’s Ilse Keister. Joseph Uapingene (NUDO) nominated Swapo councillor Queen Kamati for the position of mayor. This was seconded by Swapo councillor Shafiishuna Nujoma.

This was disclosed at the City of Windhoek Election of office bearers for the 2023/2024 financial year, which saw Joseph Uapingene, the outgoing mayor of the City of Windhoek, and Deputy Mayor Magdalena Lombardt hand over their reins to new leadership.

Tabling the mayoral annual report and speech, Uapingene said that in the face of economic challenges, the City of Windhoek municipality fostered an environment that supported entrepreneurs. “Windhoek remains the heartbeat of the Namibian economy. According to statistics from the NSA, the CoW Council served about 450,000 to 500,000 inhabitants, of which 40% live in informal settlements. Under my office, we have identified opportunities to support entrepreneurs. Through our MSME development strategic, we facilitate access to structures for entrepreneurs. Food security and the health and well-being of the residents remained top of the agenda,” Uapingene said, adding that the city also partnered with the Office of the First Lady in bringing about food security to vulnerable communities.

He added that the council approved a budget of N$ 5 billion, of which N$250 million is approved for capital projects, for example, for the construction of open markets in Okakara and Goreangab Dam. “Council is fixing roads as well as sports infrastructure. Members of the management committee made recommendations on debt writing-off options and submitted it to the council. My successor and incoming mayor will carry on the causes I and my predecessors championed so far. Members of the council and support staff who worked tirelessly,” Uapingene said.