By: Nghiinomenwa-vali Hangala
Countless workshops where ideas are not owned and don’t devise implementation plans fall short of their aims.
This is according to Pierre van Rensburg, City of Windhoek Strategic Executive for Urban and Transport Planning.
Almost every day, there is a workshop, seminar or conference around various Namibian towns, discussing and interrogating national issues.
Van Rensburg expressed his observations at the recent Windhoek Mobility Session.
The Session convened senior leaders from the Ministry of Works and Transport, the City of Windhoek, the Khomas Regional Council, the Roads Authority, the Road Fund Administration, the Road Transportation Board, and other key stakeholders for an Urban Mobility Working Session.
The session was aimed at advancing the city’s transport agenda and contributing to Namibia’s Draft Public Passenger Transport Act.
According to Van Rensburg, workshops often generate valuable ideas, but without clear ownership, they can just be talk shows.
“Our objective was to ensure that each proposal emerging from the session is supported by a responsible institution and a defined commitment,” he said.
The Session Discussions were centred on three priority objectives identified by the City of Windhoek, namely: securing sustainable funding for transport improvements, and finalising the Draft Public Passenger Transport Act.
Lastly, strengthening coordination among institutions responsible for planning, financing, regulating, and delivering mobility services.
Proposals related to funding include an annual fiscus allocation and the introduction of fuel levies to provide more predictable financial support for transport improvement.
The session also agreed to prioritise the approval of the draft Public Passenger Transport Act to establish a robust legislative framework and support effective governance and implementation of Namibia’s public transport system.
The City’s management indicated that enhanced coordination among stakeholders aims to improve alignment and enable more integrated service delivery.
Globally, 45 per cent of the world’s 8.2 billion people live in urban areas, with two-thirds of future population growth projected to occur in cities.
Namibia’s latest population statistics also reflect this trend, with approximately 500,000 people – nearly one in five citizens – residing in Windhoek.
As such, the City’s management said mobility decisions in the capital have significant implications for economic activity and access to employment, education, healthcare, and public services.
The commitments developed during the session are expected to contribute to the next phase of work on Windhoek’s mobility agenda and the refinement of Namibia’s Draft Public Passenger Transport Act.
In Namibia, the road sector continues to face a funding gap estimated at approximately N$3.7 billion for the 2025/2026 financial year, underscoring the urgent need for innovative and sustainable financing solutions.
Recent fuel levy relief measures aimed at cushioning consumers from rising living costs are also expected to reduce revenue inflows to the Road Fund.
Recently, the RFA has sought to leverage NUST’s academic and research capabilities to develop innovative, evidence-based solutions that enhance the efficiency, resilience, and long-term sustainability of the road sector.
“As the RFA emphasises, tomorrow’s infrastructure cannot continue to be funded with yesterday’s mindset,” the Fund wrote.
The initiative is also expected to promote locally relevant, research-driven solutions by integrating academic expertise with industry experience and Namibia’s own operational data, ensuring that home-grown knowledge plays a central role in shaping the future of the road sector.
erastus@thevillager.com.na
