Allexer Namundjembo
Social justice activist and City of Windhoek council hopeful Michael Amushelelo says his top priority is to formalise informal settlements by servicing land and relocating residents to developed areas. He said this will allow the city to properly service those areas and ensure people live in dignified conditions.
Amushelelo outlined his plan in an interview with the Windhoek Observer on Wednesday as he contests for a seat in the upcoming municipal elections under the Namibia Economic Freedom Fighters (NEFF).
“My key priority will be the servicing of land and making sure that land is affordable for all residents of Windhoek,” he said.
“It cannot be correct that the same land in Ausblick is priced differently from land in Katutura. Land remains land irrespective of the location, so why should it be priced differently?” He questioned.
His campaign focuses on land reform, job creation, service delivery and debt relief for struggling residents.
Amushelelo also pledged to cancel the city’s contract with RedForce Debt Management, which he described as exploitative and insensitive to the financial struggles of households.
“The majority of our households are struggling to pay rates and taxes because salaries are not increasing, yet municipal charges go up every year,” he said.
He proposed a new debt repayment model that would reconnect water and electricity under prepaid systems.
“When they buy water or electricity, a small portion will go towards paying off their debts. For example, if you buy N$100 of electricity, N$10 will be allocated to your debt. Water and electricity are basic human rights that cannot be denied simply because someone is in debt,” he said.
Amushelelo said he would stop the harassment of informal traders and shift policing efforts toward crime prevention.
Amushelelo also promised to reopen the Ramatex textile factory to revive Windhoek’s manufacturing sector and create thousands of jobs.
“The city will play an active role in creating new industries. All city uniforms, from cleaners and electricians to bus drivers and police officers, will be produced locally. We will also collaborate with existing textile manufacturers to ensure all school uniforms in Windhoek are made here. This will create massive employment opportunities and reduce crime, because crime is directly linked to unemployment.”
He also called for improvements in service delivery, saying the municipality has been too slow to address basic issues.
Amushelelo further proposed ending arrests for unpaid traffic fines and introducing more flexible payment options.
“Imagine someone having fines of N$16 000 whose only source of income is driving a taxi. We will introduce a system that allows people to pay in monthly installments instead of jailing productive citizens,” he said.
Amushelelo, known for his activism on land and economic justice, has led demonstrations on unemployment and land rights.
He has previously aligned with NEFF and the Landless People’s Movement. Some of his protests have led to arrests and court cases.
His desire to serve ordinary Namibians drives his decision to enter city politics.
