Germany assists Windhoek in affordable and reliable transport services

Nov 26, 2015, German Information Centre Africa (GIC)
NamPublicTransportLaunchThe City of Windhoek (CoW) in collaboration with the Ministry of Works and Transport, and German development organisation GIZ, embarked on the development of the Sustainable Urban Transport Master Plan (SUTMP) for Namibia in 2012. The aim of this project is to reduce poverty, improve gender equality, and allow access of all inhabitants to affordable and reliable public transport.

In this regard, the "MoveWindhoek" project was launched through the SUTMP on November 18, 2015, an initiative which will enable Namibians to make their transport system fit for a modern city. City of Windhoek Mayor, Councillor Muesee Kazapua, commended the German government for making funds and expertise available to assist with the implementation of the SUTMP.

Launch of "MoveWindhoek", (© GIC Africa)

This is indeed a very welcome gesture, as we believe it will go a long way, as far as the implementation process is concerned," said CLLR Kazapua.

The mayor emphasized the fact that public transport offered by the City to date is not coping with the demand and that time and again his office receives complaints from employers that their employees often arrive late. "The council therefore realised that public transport can be a serious bottleneck to the development of our economy, which is against our economic dreams," Kazapua stressed.

A bus of the ''MoveWindhoek'' project (© GIC Africa) At the launch of "MoveWindhoek", Namibian Minister of Works and Transport, Alpheus !Naruseb, said he is happy about the planning and implementation so far. The minister said that a Sustainable Urban Transport Committee was inaugurated a few weeks ago which consists of representatives from the Ministry of Works and Transport, the Ministry of Urban and Rural Development, the City of Windhoek, municipalities of the towns of Okahandja and Rehoboth as well as GIZ. The minister further noted that the said committee will be overseeing the progress of the SUTMP implementation and will serve as a strong instrument to ensure that the Plan is put into action.

Minister !Naruseb also paid his gratitude to the German government for its support in the development of the Plan and for its continuous support in the implementation of Namibia's ambitions. "Public transport is an essential service and I am convinced that we can learn from their experience and adapt it to our own Namibian situation," said !Naruseb.

In a telephonic interview, Mr. Cedric Limbo, Deputy Director for Transport Policy at the Ministry of Works and Transport said, "We are envisaging to have in middle December 2015 approximately 24 buses, the initial study we had focused on are for the Windhoek and surrounding areas which are Okahandja, Rehoboth and the airport (Hosea Kutako International Airport) which is the initial study area."

"We are yet to appreciate what are the needs for the four O's, which are Ohangwena, Omusati, Oshikoto and Oshana Regions as well as the Local Authority under those regions," said Limbo. "I think the instructions from Government is that it should be replicated to other regions and towns. Our understanding is that those other regions and the local authority should be able to learn to not repeat the mistakes currently made in Windhoek," said Limbo.

"When it is fully operational, we should have at least, on a frequency of twenty minutes a bus, which requires seven buses operating on each lane. Eventually we will have an App, where those with smartphones can download the times and routes of bus services," Limbo concluded.

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