In a highly anticipated election for the new mayor of Windhoek, city councillors navigated a tense voting process, with Swapo Councillor Queen Kamati emerging as the new mayor.

It was a closely contested affair between the Popular Democratic Movement's Clemence Hanases and the Swapo Party's Queen Kamati during a special council meeting to elect the city's new leadership.

Out of 14 valid votes, Hanases received 5 votes, while Queen Kamati garnered 6 votes, securing the mayoral chain.

Kamati, shortly thereafter, delivered her acceptance speech, emphasising the need for unity and a spirit of collective leadership to steer the city's affairs effectively.

Outgoing Mayor and NUDO town councillor Joseph Uapingene also presented his remarks as he vacated the top seat in city affairs.

Uapingene was, however, chosen as Deputy Mayor after he was nominated by Swapo Party Councillor Fransina Kahungu and seconded by fellow Swapo Party Councillor Magdalena Pienaar-Lombardt, who was the outgoing Deputy Mayor.

Swapo Party councillors Kahungu, Shafiishuna Nujoma, and Austin Kwenani assumed new roles as members of the Management Committee.

The remaining seats on the Management Committee will be determined through elections scheduled for January 18 to meet the required quorum.

This election marks a pivotal moment in the city's leadership, setting the stage for collaborative efforts and governance in the year ahead.

Last year, it took the councillors over three months to agree on and elect a new leadership for Windhoek, the centre of power and capital of Namibia.