The Minister of Urban and Rural Development, Erastus Utoni, has urged local authority leaders to avoid political affiliation when carrying out their duties.

He made the call during a joint signing ceremony of the renewal and new cooperation agreements between the City of Windhoek and 16 other local authorities.

The areas of cooperation entail solid waste and sewerage management, human resources and capacity building, economic development, as well as land and housing.

The agreements will assist local authorities in continuing to improve service delivery and reform by building the capacity and capability of the local government sector to enhance its effectiveness and resilience.

The Minister of Urban and Rural Development, Erastus Utoni, raised concerns over financial mismanagement and the lack of skills, capacity, and knowledge among staff.

He called on the councils to effectively carry out their duties, deliver services as entrusted, and avoid political interference and tribalism.

"Because sometimes if you focus too much on your political line-up, you will mess up if you don't follow proper processes. It is expected of you to deliver services and ensure that the needs of everyone in the community are catered for without discrimination on the basis of political affiliation, tribe, or religion."

Okahandja Municipality, Okahao, and Ruacana Town Councils, as well as Tsandi Village Council, signed new agreements with the City of Windhoek.

"We firmly believe that by joining forces and sharing knowledge and resources, we can jointly address our challenges and seize opportunities to find long-term solutions aimed at creating sustainable and thorough urban and rural environments that cater to the needs of our residents."