Okahao: As Okahao heads into next week's local authority elections, the northern town is taking stock of five years that delivered both visible development gains and persistent service-delivery pressures.
According to Namibia Press Agency, for outgoing Mayor Cornelia Ndapwohoni Iyambula, the period has been one of 'steady, structured, and transformative growth' achieved under difficult financial conditions. Iyambula, who has presided over the town council since 2020, said the council pushed ahead with long-term development planning, expanded housing delivery initiatives, and strengthened the local economy despite national budgetary constraints. The mayor believes these efforts have laid a more resilient foundation for Okahao's future growth.
In an interview with Nampa, she said that the town's development has been driven by accelerated township establishment, infrastructure upgrades, and efforts to diversify the economic base. 'Over the past five years, Okahao has experienced steady, structured, and transformative growth across housing delivery, land development, infrastructure upgrades, and socio-economic advancement. Despite national fiscal constraints and reduced capital funding, we have maintained a clear strategic focus and delivered projects that strengthen the town's long-term resilience,' Iyambula said.
A key accomplishment by the council, according to Iyambula, is the adoption of the Urban Structure Plan 2022-2044, which guides long-term development. The council prioritised housing delivery, resulting in 170 low and middle-income houses constructed through coordinated partnerships. Seventy were built by the National Housing Enterprise, 50 by the Shack Dwellers Federation, and 50 under the council's Building Together programme. Private developers also added more than 100 plots for residential construction.
Yet demand continued to outpace supply. The mayor said Okahao has 2,136 applicants on its housing waiting list and 3,977 unserviced plots. And to fully service planned land, she said that the town requires N.dollars 748 million. Since 2020, the council has also advanced the formalisation of informal settlements, having completed full enumeration of all shacks in Okahao and delivering 930 planned and surveyed plots.
Low-income residents were allocated plots valued at N.dollars 14,000, with Iyambula saying that the goal was to 'transition informal settlements into formal, secure neighbourhoods, promoting inclusivity and reducing unplanned expansion.' Other notable achievements included the completion of water reticulation in all residential blocks of Kashenda Proper and Extensions 1, 2, and 3. The mayor added that Development Workshop Namibia has additionally secured N.dollars 13 million from KfW to fund major bulk services, including two sewer pump stations, two medium-voltage substations, and an elevated water tower.
On his part, Okahao Chief Executive Officer Johannes Katanga Iipinge described the last five years as a period marked by strong cooperation between the political leadership and the administration. 'Over the past five years, the strong partnership between the administration and the town council has been the cornerstone of Okahao's housing delivery and land servicing efforts. The council has provided clear policy direction, while the administration ensured the technical execution, compliance, and coordination with key stakeholders,' he told Nampa on Tuesday.
This synergy, he said, has helped attract business investment and create an enabling environment for local economic development. Among the flagship outcomes of this unified approach is the Oshikwataakwata Open Day Market, which provides structured trading space every Tuesday for youth, women, and micro-enterprises. Additional investments include a new open market near the Okahao hospital and the technical business centre, which offers affordable rental units for SMEs.
Okahao has also recorded growth in various sectors, with new businesses in banking, retail, wholesale, hospitality, private healthcare, and a shopping mall. However, Iipinge acknowledged persistent challenges. These include funding shortages, rapid urbanisation, and stormwater management. Extension 4 remains one of the most affected areas, where flooding impacted newly built houses and delayed compensation to affected homesteads. Currently, 41 homesteads valued at N.dollars 38.9 million remain uncompensated, while N.dollars 7.3 million required to compensate six priority homesteads is still outstanding, Iipinge said.
Okahao is one of five local authorities in the Omusati Region, alongside Outapi, Oshikuku, Tsandi, and Onandjamba. Since the 2020 elections, its council has been composed of five Swapo Party councillors and two from the Independent Patriots for Change (IPC). With 12,298 registered voters expected to cast their ballots on 26 November, the town is shaping up to be a key battleground for Swapo, IPC, and the Affirmative Repositioning movement.
As campaigning enters its final stretch, Iyambula urged residents to campaign and participate peacefully. 'Your vote is your voice. Together, let us continue shaping a brighter and more prosperous future for Okahao,' she said.