Lüderitz mayor sets targets

AFFORDABLE housing for the poor as well as industrialisation will be top priorities for recently elected L uuml;deritz mayor Hilaria Mukapuli.

In an exclusive interview with The Namibian, she pledged to focus on these issues which she believes ‘can create much needed employment opportunities’ during her five year term of office.

According to Mukapuli, her first priority is to complete certain projects, including the construction of a fire station and the tarring of a one kilometre road from Benguela.

These projects were initiated by the previous council.

Talking about her first 100 days in office, the mayor said she used her experience as political office bearer of the previous council to help new councillors understand council affairs.

“I managed to guide the new councillors in the right direction. That contributed to the smooth running of the council, because I have this experience from the previous council, ” Mukapuli described her 100 days in office.

Government attempts in 2015 to change the name of the southern harbour town of L uuml;deritz to !Nami ne;N uuml;s had triggered a backlash among some sections of the community, who argued that the move will hurt the tourism business, and demanded a referendum.

Mukapuli played her cards close to her chest when asked about her view on the proposed name change.

“I would rather talk about what I learnt from the whole process. Public participation is critical in ensuring social cohesion and development, ” she replied, adding that council has resolved to consult the community on the name change.

Moreover, the mayor said there were numerous consultations on this issue, and the findings would be submitted to the line ministry for scrutiny.

On the question of how the annual L uuml;deritz Crayfish Festival – aimed at marketing the town as a major tourist and investment destination – had impacted local socio economic growth, she replied that “the staging of the event has surpassed expectations “.

According to her, the festival had a significant impact on local economic development, both on small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and corporate businesses.

However, some residents spoke to on the sidelines of the recent festival questioned the benefits of the festival for the community.

“It [the festival] has been commercialised, and the ordinary resident on the street frankly does not benefit from it, ” a resident who preferred not to be named, charged.

L uuml;deritz Waterfront CEO Fluksman Samuehl, who serves on the Crayfish Festival’s organising committee, said it has shown significant growth in terms of attendance, exhibitions and style.

“The event truly has become a catalyst for tourism growth benefits, not only for formal businesses, but for SMEs as well, ” he added.

According to Samuehl, the recently held festival attracted large crowds from all corners of the country, plunging the town into an accommodation crisis.

He pledged that the L uuml;deritz Waterfront will continue to be a key driver in ensuring that the annual festival retains its prominence and relevance for years to come.

Former L uuml;deritz mayor Susan Ndjaleka said the festival has put the town on the global map.

“All our efforts and inputs to grow the town through the staging of the festival were not in vain, ” she remarked.

She then advised all local stakeholders to guard against the festival losing its momentum, adding that “it is very important to have all strategies in place to grow the event bigger and bigger each year “.

Meanwhile, Mukapuli also highlighted issues like the extension of town boundaries, old municipal debts, land servicing, sanitation provision to informal settlements, improving the block sewerage system and the refurbishing of the dilapidated single quarters and compounds, which were constructed during the colonial era, as challenges she hopes to focus on during her term.

However, she was quick to note that these challenges will need government support, adding that the council would approach all stakeholders to assist in addressing them.

Asked whether she foresees any challenges in working with other councillors, Mukapuli responded that “through effective communication, infighting can be dealt with, and my strong belief is that teamwork and a common vision can lead to success “.

Furthermore, the mayor hailed the business conference recently held at the town as a huge success.

“I expect a definite increase in interest from investors. The conference was quite a success as we also had attendees from foreign countries, and council is already talking to some of the investors interested in buying land, ” she enthused.

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