Windhoek: Mayor of the City of Windhoek, Sakarias Uunona, on Saturday called for stronger community participation in waste management as the municipality launched the 2026 Mayoral Clean-Up Campaign. Speaking in Havana, Moses ||Garoëb Constituency, Uunona said the city's changing population dynamics require urgent, coordinated responses if Windhoek is to maintain environmental standards.According to Namibia Press Agency, Uunona highlighted that Windhoek's past status as Africa's cleanest city has been challenged by factors such as rapid population growth and municipal expansion, leading to increased service delivery pressures. Statistics cited by the mayor indicate that Windhoek's population has grown from about 340,000 in 2011 to approximately 486,186 in 2023, with informal settlements expanding at an estimated 8.2 percent annually.The mayor emphasized the need for coordinated, inclusive, and sustainable interventions in waste management, infrastructure planning, and community engagement to address these demographic challenges. The Mayoral Clean-Up Campaign aims to not only improve cleanliness but also strengthen long-term urban sustainability planning.Under the theme 'Go Green, Skip the Plastic,' the initiative will run until 17 October 2026, featuring constituency-based clean-up activities across the capital. Uunona stressed the importance of shared responsibility, urging residents, businesses, and civic organizations to work alongside the City of Windhoek in environmental stewardship efforts.In support of the campaign, the municipality received 4,000 reusable shopping bags valued at more than N.dollars 300,000 from the Mobile Telecommunications Company (MTC). These bags will be distributed during campaign activities and at selected shopping centers to reduce reliance on single-use plastics.