By Staff Reporter
The City of Windhoek, in partnership with the ministry of health and social services and the ministry of works and transport, is moving ahead with plans to transform land adjacent to the Central Hospital’s main entrance into a N$5 million market and taxi rank.
The project is expected to bring greater order to informal trading and public transport activities around the hospital while creating a more organised and cleaner environment for patients, visitors, traders and commuters.
City of Windhoek management committee chairperson Austin Kwenani announced the plans during a statutory public meeting for the Windhoek West Constituency held at the Windhoek Vocational Training Centre last night.
Kwenani said the development forms part of broader efforts by the City and its partners to ad- dress activities taking place informally around public facilities and improve the use of municipal land.
The area around the Central Hospital has long been a busy point for pedestrians, taxis and informal traders, making proper planning and organisation important for the movement of people and vehicles.
The proposed facility is expected to provide a designated space for traders and taxis while reducing congestion and disorder around the hospital’s main entrance.
Kwenani also announced plans to develop Erf 1254 in Pionierspark, located at the corner of Mandume Ndemufayo Avenue and Fritsche Street.
The planned development will include water and sewer connections, prepaid toilet facilities, communal water points and perimeter fencing.
These facilities are intended to improve conditions for traders operating at the site while ensuring that basic services are available.
Meanwhile, construction of the N$12 million Rocky Crest Cemetery project is progressing according to schedule.
According to the City, construction work is currently advancing on the boundary fence, roadbed and palisade fencing.
The cemetery forms part of the City’s efforts to expand burial infrastructure as existing cemetery space comes under increasing pressure from Windhoek’s growing population.
However, residents at the public meeting used the platform to raise concerns over a number of service delivery challenges affecting their daily lives.
Among the issues raised were the declining cleanliness of the city, inadequate street sweeping, frequent water pipe bursts, potholes, faded road markings, traffic congestion and inadequate law enforcement.
Traffic enforcement was highlighted as a particular concern, with residents calling for stronger enforcement to address violations contributing to congestion and unsafe road conditions.
The concerns were responded to during the meeting, with City officials providing feedback on measures being implemented to address some of the challenges.
On traffic congestion, residents were informed that the City is upgrading several key roads in an effort to improve traffic flow and make movement across Windhoek easier.
The roads include Winnie Madikizela-Mandela Road, Auas Road and Aneas Peter Nanyemba Road.
The road upgrades are expected to improve connectivity between different parts of the city and ease pressure on some of Windhoek’s major routes.
The meeting provided residents with an opportunity to directly raise concerns with elected representatives and City officials on issues affecting their communities.
It was attended by Windhoek West Constituency Councillor Hon. Emma Muteka and City Councillors Matthew Shoongo, Maitjituavi Kavetu and Werner-Meck Tjihuiko.
The City’s statutory public meetings programme will continue this weekend, with meetings scheduled for the Khomasdal, Tobias Hainyeko and Katutura East constituencies.
The meetings are intended to give residents an opportunity to engage directly with their elected representatives and raise concerns about municipal services and development priorities in their respective constituencies.
