Sem Billy I. David
In any growing city, successfully implementing development projects is crucial to improving residents’ lives. The City of Windhoek, together with the Regional Council Office, are responsible for ensuring that projects meet the requirements of the people and should be completed efficiently and on time. However, there have been mounting concerns regarding delays, mismanagement, and even abandonment of projects in Windhoek, especially in the informal settlement, such as Mix Settlement (Mix Primary School, started 2023 till now not completed), Groot Aub, Havana (road infrastructures, Schools and Hospitals) and Goreangab Dam, which ultimately damage service delivery and public trust. The regional office and the city of Windhoek frequently visit localities, break ground on projects, and thrill the public with initiatives that are either unfinished or need sufficient funding to complete. This plays with public expectations and undermines confidence among community members. You just hear, there is a project coming, the budget is allocated and the contractor is already awarded, but there was no inspection made to assist in budgeting. Then later a project is on hold either due to mismanagement of funds or corruption. This spirit of amnesia must be stopped. Projects must be implemented readily and timely, to avoid giving communities hope of things that are not well planned.
Addressing Community Needs
Development projects should be aligned with the immediate and long-term needs of the community. It is essential that before initiating any project, authorities engage with residents to identify their priorities. Community participation ensures that funds and resources are allocated effectively, reducing the risk of implementing projects that do not address the most pressing concerns. Many communities in Windhoek and surrounding areas struggle with inadequate infrastructure, lack of proper sanitation, and limited access to clean water. Yet, some projects meant to address these issues either take too long to complete or fail to deliver expected outcomes due to poor planning and oversight. Authorities must establish a transparent and inclusive consultation process to guarantee that development initiatives reflect real community needs.
Timely delivery and preventing project abandonment
Project delays and abandonment have been a chronic problem in Windhoek. Several factors contribute to these setbacks, including poor project management, lack of accountability, and financial mismanagement. Delays not only raise expenses, but they also leave communities frustrated and without essential services. To avoid such setbacks, the Regional Council Office and the City of Windhoek should put up rigorous monitoring and assessment processes. These systems should monitor project progress, identify bottlenecks, and guarantee that contractors adhere to deadlines. Furthermore, authorities must impose sanctions on contractors and officials who fail to deliver as agreed.
Strengthening Accountability and Transparency
One of the key reasons behind project failures is the lack of accountability. Funds meant for development projects must be managed with transparency to prevent corruption and misallocation of resources. The public should have access to project plans, budgets, and completion timelines, ensuring that officials remain accountable for every step of the process.
Independent audits and performance reviews can also be conducted regularly to assess the efficiency of project implementation. If any discrepancies arise, corrective measures should be taken immediately to avoid wastage of resources.
The City of Windhoek and the Regional Council Office must take community needs seriously when implementing development projects. Delivering services on time is crucial to ensure residents benefit from planned improvements, and we must strictly avoid project abandonment. By prioritising transparency, accountability, and community engagement, the authorities can restore public trust and enhance the overall development of the city. Windhoek deserves a proactive approach to governance that puts the needs of the people first, ensuring that no project fails due to negligence or poor management. There must be a serious focus on the scope of service delivery and the avoidance of project non-completion.
Regional councillors should be audited for constituency fund expenditure compliance and provide a detailed breakdown of how, when, and what was done for constituency residents. Such an audit will create accountability and eliminate collusion with some friends for self-centred interests and profits.
Sem Billy I. David is a community development advocate, youth leader and AR Khomas chairperson.
