Council meetings in brief: Institutional Land Policy to be amended

Farm Okukuna to get three e-solar motorcycles

The City of Windhoek is set to receive a donation from AfriFoodLinks, a European Union-funded project, to enhance urban agriculture. Valued at approximately N$750 000, this donation will support the growth and development of Farm Okukuna, an urban agriculture initiative located at Goreangab, Windhoek.

Additionally, the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform will donate three e-solar motorcycles to support the farm to enhance its operations by ensuring that project participants are better equipped to produce food for both self-consumption and income generation.

New science, technology, and innovation centre approved

The Windhoek Municipal Council has approved a proposal for a partnership with the Namibia Centre for Research, Science, and Technology (NCRST) to establish a science, technology, and innovation centre at the UN Plaza Community Complex.

The UN Plaza Community Complex is set for renovations estimated at N$2.3 million. The partnership agreement grants NCRST the rights to renovate the restaurant building at the complex and lease the space for a period of five years. The lease may be extended based on a mutual agreement between the two parties.

The Windhoek Municipal Council has approved amendments to the Institutional Land Policy, which regulates the use and transfer of institutional land and sports grounds. Under the new policy, land can only be used for the purposes for which it was originally intended.

Purchasers of land, as well as their successors, are prohibited from changing the property’s use, or selling, leasing, or donating it without the municipal council’s consent for 30 years from the date of transfer.

City to conduct general valuation of all rateable properties starting May

The City of Windhoek will begin a general valuation of all rateable properties within the municipal area on 1 May. The process will involve the collection and analysis of data to determine updated property values, which will be used to establish a new base for rates and taxes for the next five years.The entire valuation exercise is expected to cost N$ 4.7 million and is scheduled to take approximately 12 months to complete.

Revival of the low-carbon public transport initiative

The Windhoek Municipal Council has approved the revitalisation of the low-carbon public transport initiative under the Move Windhoek Project. This initiative will allow the council to procure low-carbon electric buses and conduct a feasibility study to evaluate potential routes for integrating these electric buses into the city’s public transport system.

The Move Windhoek Project is funded by the Green Planet Fund. It aims to enhance the frequency of public transport, improve accessibility, reduce traffic congestion, and enhance air quality, all while promoting public health. Ultimately, it contributes to a more sustainable future.

This initiative aligns with the City of Windhoek’s strategic plan for a smart city, which emphasises technological innovation, operational efficiency, and sustainability.

– Compiled in-house