Time to Bring Life to Katutura

Sometimes i look around Katutura and can’t help but feel like the place itself is tired, as if the earth, the streets, and even the air are gasping for a little love. 

Things feel dry: the economy, the mood, and even our mornings.

I often go jogging after 05h00 on weekdays and go hiking on Saturdays.

Early morning air is naturally crisp, but in Katutura it feels harsher, as though the environment itself has been neglected. 

Instead of breathing in the fresh scent of trees and flowers, I’m often met with the unpleasant smell of urine along the streets. 

I can’t help wondering how different it would feel to run in a place surrounded by trees, where every breath is cleaner, cooler and lighter.

I visited Pretoria in 2024 and was amazed by the Jacaranda trees, their purple blossoms filling the streets with colour and calm. Pretoria is home to an estimated 60 000 to 70 000 of these iconic trees, which line streets and parks. 

Despite whatever personal worries I had at the time, I felt lighter, probably because of the air I was breathing: rich with oxygen from all that greenery.

You get the same feeling when you visit areas like Pioneers Park or Eros here in Windhoek. 

PLANTING THE FUTURE

Tree-lined streets create a sense of calm and beauty. And, these areas’ municipal rates and taxes are higher than those of Katutura, yet they still manage to plant trees and keep them alive. 

Many employ people with gardening skills, or green hands, to water, trim and care for them, creating small but meaningful job opportunities in the process.

So, dear Katutura residents, why can’t we start where we are? 

Let’s each plant a tree or two in front of our homes. It doesn’t have to be anything fancy; just something that brings life and colour to our surroundings. 

Yes, it might add a little extra to our water bill, but it’s worth it. Besides, you don’t need to water a tree every day; once it’s established, a little care goes a long way. 

Every tree we plant today is an investment in a healthier environment and a better future, not just for us, but for the next generation who will breathe the air we leave behind. 

COMMUNITY SUPPORT

It’s not just about our homes. Institutions should lead the way too. Schools can use trees as living classrooms, teaching pupils about nature and responsibility. 
Hospitals must plant trees and flowers to help patients heal in calmer, greener surroundings. Even cemeteries deserve shade and beauty, a reminder that life continues in different forms. And businesses can create welcoming environments by planting trees outside their premises.

Small actions like these make a big difference. 

While we’re at it, let’s support our local small plant sellers, the men and women who sell seedlings and pot plants along our streets or at open markets. 

You can also visit places like garden centres and ask which plants are best for your area or home, depending on your budget, water usage or house design.

Take towns like Tsumeb and Grootfontein, for example. Their streets look alive, full of colour and freshness. 

You can almost feel the difference in the air when you walk or drive through them. 

Those towns are living proof that our land can bloom beautifully when we make the effort. 

Imagine if every Katutura street had even 10 homes with trees outside. Within a few years, our suburbs could be cooler, greener and more welcoming.

TREES ARE LIFE

Trees do more than beautify our surroundings, they clean the air we breathe by absorbing carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen. 

They cool our homes, provide shade, and even increase property value. They create shelter for birds and animals, bringing balance to our environment. 

They also reduce stress and create a sense of calm, something those who’ve gone through hard times or depression can truly relate to. 

There’s a reason being around plants feels healing: they literally give life, not just to people, but to everything around them.

So here’s a challenge to all of us: plant a tree or two for the sake of our health, our well-being, and our environment. 

Let’s do it for the future, so that our children grow up in a Katutura that feels alive and full of hope.

 * Indira Tjongarero, a resident of Katutura since 1990.

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