By: Mathias Hangala
The City of Windhoek (CoW) has announced that 43 households and a church currently located at the corner of Matshitshi and Eneas Peter Nanyemba intersection in Havana will be relocated to serviced plots in Havana Extensions 8 and 11.
The relocation will take place between 1 October and 31 October 2025.
According to a press release issued on Tuesday, the relocation aims to make way for the construction of an open market and a taxi rank in the Havana Four-Way area.
Currently, approximately 443 vendors operate at the Havana Four-Way, some residing in the area, while others commute from different parts of Windhoek. Local traders have expressed hopes that they will be prioritised in the allocation of trading spaces at the new market, given their long-standing dependence on the area for their livelihoods. The new market is expected to span 6,000m², offering improved infrastructure and trading conditions.
At their new location, relocated households will receive serviced erven with access to individual water connections, electricity, and toilet facilities—a significant improvement from the informal conditions they currently face. The area is planned for key infrastructures, including a hospital, school, and taxi rank.
“CoW wishes to inform the public that households currently residing within the Havana Community Market and Taxi Rank area have been allocated plots at the newly-established Havana Extension 8 and Extension 11 townships,” the statement read.
The new extensions already include communal water points and toilets, while bulk electrical infrastructure is under construction. The city also plans to build culverts to improve road access during the rainy season.
In addition, the Informal Settlement Upgrading Project (ISUP) will soon roll out full services to the area, including individual water and sewer connections, along with roads and stormwater infrastructure.
The relocation is part of a broader initiative to upgrade informal settlements and develop critical urban infrastructure.
“CoW therefore requests all affected households to vacate the Community Market and Taxi Rank area to allow for the allocation of proper trading spaces for vendors currently operating within the road reserve,” the City said in the statement.
This will also allow for the completion of road and bulk water pipeline works at the Matshitshi and Eneas Peter Nanyemba (Havana 4-Way) intersection, aimed at reducing traffic congestion.
The ISUP is a joint initiative between the Urban and Rural Development Ministry (MURD), CoW, the National Housing Enterprise (NHE), and the Khomas Regional Council. It was established following late President Hage Geingob’s declaration of informal settlements as a humanitarian crisis. The project targets ultra-low-income residents – those earning up to N$3,500 per month – offering them access to affordable housing on serviced land through the City of Windhoek Housing Scheme.
Under this scheme, the City covers the housing bond, which beneficiaries repay over 25 years at a low-interest rate, creating a revolving fund for future housing developments.
RESIDENT REACTIONS
Despite the City’s reassurances, the planned relocation has received mixed reactions from affected residents.
Lusia Ndongo, a Havana resident, stated she would appreciate clarity on whether CoW could identify residents who can afford houses or plots in areas like Goreangab Extension 4 and offer them alternative options.
Another resident, Maiya Thomas, expressed frustration over what she sees as a lack of follow-up from the City. “We don’t have a problem with relocation; we just want CoW to provide the developments we requested. The letters are in their offices, but now they’ve given us a due date without responding to our concerns,” she revealed.
Thomas, who sells meat at the four-way intersection, earns around N$600 per day, which she uses to support her three children and her mother in northern Namibia. She has called on City officials to first inspect residents’ homes before the move, to assess how much they have invested in their current structures.
Moses //Garoeb constituency councillor, Stefanus Ndengu, noted that the affected residents fall outside his jurisdiction. However, he confirmed that residents had requested the construction of a bridge to ease transportation during the rainy season—especially to enable school children and workers to reach their destinations safely.
During a consultative meeting earlier this month, some residents raised concerns about being relocated from one underdeveloped area to another.
In response, City councillors assured the community that service roll-out is ongoing, with communal taps and ablution blocks already available, and electricity infrastructure underway.
