Allexer Namundjembo
The City of Windhoek says the lack of dedicated national funding remains the main barrier to expanding and improving municipal bus services.
The municipality raised concerns over transport shortages and damaged bus stop shelters.
Responding to questions from the Windhoek Observer on Tuesday, city spokesperson Lydia Amutenya said public transport is an essential social service but operates without support from the national social budget.
“While public transport is widely recognised as an essential social service, it is currently still not supported by any dedicated funding allocation from the national social budget as should be the case,” Amutenya said.
“Council is therefore actively engaging with central government and relevant stakeholders to advocate for the establishment of sustainable funding mechanisms,” she added.
She said affordable and reliable transport is critical for low-income residents, who spend a large share of their monthly income on commuting.
“The expansion of the public transport fleet is directly linked to the resolution of this funding challenge.”
Amutenya expressed the municipality’s hope for tangible progress in the near future.
Amutenya said the municipality is focusing on maintaining the current fleet and improving service delivery within existing resources.
“Council is strengthening operational systems, increasing utilisation rates and enhancing overall efficiency to improve service availability,” she said.
She also addressed concerns over broken and inadequate bus shelters, confirming that the city has launched a public–private partnership to refurbish and modernise bus stops across Windhoek.
“The tender process has been concluded, and a service provider has been appointed,” Amutenya said.
“Implementation of the project will commence once the contract has been formally signed and all contractual requirements have been finalised.”
She said the project is expected to improve commuter comfort and safety, especially during bad weather.
“The city will provide further communication once the project enters the implementation phase,” she said.
Commuters have complained that municipal buses are often full.
Moses Alfeus, who uses the bus from Okuryangava to Eros, said overcrowding is a daily problem.
“The bus is always full. I think the municipality must increase its fleet,” he said.
The municipal bus service is used mainly by low-income residents, people living in informal settlements, students and workers travelling from the city’s outskirts.
The municipality runs the service as a social programme rather than a profit-driven operation, keeping fares low to remain affordable.
However, public transport does not receive a dedicated national subsidy.
Local authorities must fund operations, fleet maintenance and infrastructure from municipal revenue, which is already under pressure from demands such as housing, water, electricity and road maintenance.
