Alderwoman Fransina Ndateelela Kahungu was born in northern Namibia at Okapanda village in the Anamulenge constituency in the Omusati region. She is the longest-serving member of the current Windhoek Municipal Council and has served as deputy mayor and mayor of the City of Windhoek from November 2019 to November 2021.

 

Cllr Kahungu describes herself as a very simple person who enjoys the little things in life, such as cultural plays and dances, fashion, and playing volleyball. She loves and enjoys being outside in nature. Cllr Kahungu enjoys dancing and singing so much that she insists that if she were not a teacher or politician, she would have been a dancer and singer.

 

Cllr Kahungu is passionate about human development. Specifically, helping people self-actualize and become the best that they can be. When asked whom she admires the most, Cllr Kahungu said she takes her strength from the Lord, but she also takes inspiration from her father, who instilled in her the principles of hard work, and from her mother, who taught her about honesty.

 

Cllr Kahungu has a background in education, and she has worked for many years as a teacher. She has a teaching diploma and a master’s degree focusing on housing and land delivery. She worked in different positions in her lifetime, including her first job as a domestic worker. “My first job as a domestic worker was a really significant point in my life, as it allowed me to appreciate all opportunities. My second job was a field worker on various projects. My skills to deal with people of various societal levels was sharpened. My third job was being a teacher, and this profession helps educate the Namibian child. She is working as Secretary for the SWAPO Party Women’s Council. During her term as councillor of the Municipal Council of Windhoek, Cllr Kahungu wants to focus on three areas: economic, social, and political.

 

Political: I would like the City of Windhoek to establish avenues that bring financial resources that can be used to provide services to residents. This should be aligned with initiatives that bring about economic growth and employment opportunities so that, in return, residents will be able to afford the services provided by the City. For instance, there should be adequate and appropriate spaces for informal traders and SMEs, as they are the backbone of the city. There should be special provisions for female traders and entrepreneurs as part of the wider goal of women’s empowerment.

 

Social: The City of Windhoek should revise its land delivery policies and offer residents residing on municipal land an opportunity to buy the land that they occupy. We should also focus on climate change by establishing and advocating for urban agriculture and an adequate cycling lane. Politically, I would like councillors and technocrats to unite and work together to provide the expected services to residents in the City of Windhoek.

 

Cllr Kahungu said land delivery is the biggest challenge facing the City and to address this there should be a revision of the National Land policy and other related policies in order to align them with the current societal needs. Moreover, financial management and administration operations should be elevated. This relates to ensuring that officials are well-trained and capacitated to provide the necessary services. This would ensure that land is delivered in a much more timely and affordable manner.