The Otjiwarongo Municipality unanimously approved the 2025/26 capital and expenditure budget of more than N$226 million at its special council meeting held here on Friday.

The council in 2024 tabled a budget of about N$144 million.

Chairperson of the Otjiwarongo municipality management committee, Godhard Hoko, tabled the budget, which was supported by all the local authority councillors.

Hoko, in his presentation, said the municipality’s management committee engaged extensively before agreeing to this meaningful budget for the municipality.

"Therefore, this year's estimated budget and expenditure speak to the needs of our people; as a result, a zero tariff increase on rates and taxes was agreed upon this year," he said.

He stated that N$42 million is expected to come from the sale of water, followed by payments on rates and taxes of N$40 million.

"The sale of land is expected to bring in N$25 million and a capital injection of N$18 million from the central government to the municipality, as some of the revenue streams, N$226 million, would be derived," Hoko said.

He further mentioned the salaries of employees at the municipality as the biggest expense, at N$75 million a year, followed by the maintenance of ageing water pipelines and roads.

"The ever-increasing rural-urban migration is a heavy challenge, as this exerts pressure to provide water, electricity and other needed services yearly," he said.

Mayor Gottlieb Shivute, on his part, said it is the mandate of the council to improve the lives of people in his town; therefore, the Otjiwarongo Municipality will continue to make sure that residents are supplied with reliable services, which improve their living conditions.

Shivute stated that the council will also continue to subsidise pensioners on their monthly bills for water, sewerage and sanitation services.

The Otjiwarongo budget will now be forwarded to the Minister of Urban and Rural Development, James Sankwasa, for final approval before implementation, Shivute said.