By: Mathias Hangala
Through its Public Transport Division, City of Windhoek (CoW) last week hosted a ‘Leadership in Motion – A Commuter Experience Ride’ for leaders to get a glimpse of daily commuters’ experiences with public transport.
The event brought together key government officials and city leaders for a peak-hour bus commute through Windhoek to experience, firsthand, the daily challenges faced by the city’s residents.
The journey began at Siyanda Bus Stop in Samora Machel Constituency’s Goreangab township and proceeded via Independence Avenue to the Ministry of Works and Transport Head Office. Among the attendees was the Deputy Minister of Urban and Rural Development, Evelyn !Nawases-Taeyele, who joined commuters on the bus ride.
The initiative was born out of the Urban Mobility Conference held on 10 July 2025, where government leaders at various levels reaffirmed their commitment to enhancing transport infrastructure that is affordable, accessible, and equitable.
Urban mobility in Windhoek, a city of over 500,000 residents (according to the 2025 World Population Review), has long posed logistical and infrastructural challenges. Several residents struggle to access reliable transport, especially during peak hours, leading to delays in getting to work, school, and other essential services daily. For many, this daily battle erodes not just time, but dignity, safety, and productivity.
“Urban mobility is not just a technical issue, it’s a human rights issue. Behind every bus stop and every route, there are stories of mothers going to work, children travelling to school, and families striving for a better life,” said !Nawases-Taeyele during her remarks.
The event was curated to foster empathy-based leadership and collective accountability. By participating in the commuter ride during peak hours, leaders were offered real-world insight into the lived experiences of everyday commuters, many of whom are youth, elderly citizens, and low-income earners.
!Nawases-Taeyele commended the CoW for spearheading the initiative and emphasised that sustainable change requires collaboration across all levels of government.
“This morning’s ride was an eye-opener. “It reminded us that while important progress has been made through initiatives like the CoW’s Sustainable Urban Transport Master Plan, more must be done to ease the burdens on our commuters,” she stated.
She acknowledged the contributions of various stakeholders, including the Ministry of Works and Transport for aligning national transport priorities with city-level action, the Roads Authority and Road Fund Administration for infrastructure and funding support, and local councillors and community leaders for amplifying the voices of the people in urban planning.
!Nawases-Taeyele reinforced the idea that public transport is not a privilege, but rather a right and a necessity. She called for an urban transport system that prioritises the needs of commuters, supports the economy, preserves the environment, and upholds human dignity.
“No single institution can deliver this transformation alone,” she noted, adding that “only through unified action can we build systems that truly serve the people.”
City of Windhoek Mayor Ndeshihafela Larandja acknowledged the existing challenges within the city’s public transport system, highlighting key issues such as traffic congestion, long waiting times, overcrowded bus stations, and the absence of modern interchange facilities.
However, she highlighted the importance of viewing these challenges as opportunities for collaboration and decisive action among all key stakeholders, including the aforementioned.
“The commuter experience we shared today reinforces our commitment to expanding reliable bus routes that reach more communities, and investing in modern systems such as cashless ticketing and real-time passenger information,” she added.
