In a bold move to address transportation inequities stifling economic growth, Namibia’s government has declared urban mobility a national priority, with sweeping reforms announced at the landmark City of Windhoek Urban Mobility Conference. The high-level forum, attended by key ministers and municipal leaders, unveiled ambitious plans to transform Namibia’s transport systems into engines of job creation, social equity, and environmental sustainability.
The conference, themed “Driving Economic Growth Through Urban Mobility”, saw Works and Transport Minister Veikko Nekundi deliver a blistering critique of the status quo, where low-income commuters spend up to 40% of their daily wages on unreliable transport. “When a domestic worker pays N$50 to reach a job that pays N$100 daily, we’re not facing a transport crisis – we’re enforcing economic apartheid,” Nekundi declared, framing mobility as a constitutional right rather than a privilege.
At the heart of the proposed reforms is a radical overhaul of Namibia’s public transport governance. The Ministry of Works and Transport will phase out archaic permits dating to the 1970s, replacing them with renewable, owner-based licenses tied to service quality and vehicle safety by Q4 2025. In a landmark shift, traffic fines will now target vehicle owners rather than drivers – a move Nekundi described as “economic justice for exploited taxi operators.”
The economic implications are profound. With Windhoek’s population growing at 4.2% annually against infrastructure development of just 1.8%, congestion costs the capital an estimated N$800 million yearly in lost productivity. Deputy Minister of Urban and Rural Development Evelyn !Nawases-Taeyele revealed startling data: “Every hour workers spend in traffic represents N$15 million in forfeited GDP daily. This isn’t just about comfort – it’s about national competitiveness.”
Infrastructure projects already underway signal the government’s commitment. The Windhoek-Rehoboth dual carriageway and Monte Cristo Road rehabilitation will ease critical bottlenecks, while new feeder roads in informal settlements like Havana and Otjomuise aim to integrate marginalized communities into economic hubs. More transformative are plans for Africa’s first solar-powered bus rapid transit (BRT) system, with pilot routes connecting Katutura to the central business district by mid-2026.
The green transition features prominently in Namibia’s mobility revolution. Minister Nekundi announced partnerships to develop electric vehicle charging infrastructure and low-emission zones, positioning Windhoek as a continental leader in sustainable urban planning. “Why should Europe monopolize the green transport revolution?” he challenged delegates, revealing tax incentives for operators adopting electric minibuses.
For Namibia’s informal economy – which contributes 18.7% of GDP – the reforms promise seismic shifts. Deputy Minister !Nawases-Taeyele outlined a seven-point empowerment plan for street vendors, including microfinance access, designated trading zones with utilities, and skills training. “When a Katutura vendor can reliably transport goods to Soweto Market in 30 minutes, we unlock millions in informal sector potential,” she noted, citing Johannesburg’s successful vendor transit programs.
Youth employment emerged as a recurring theme, with the Ministry targeting 15,000 new jobs in transport infrastructure projects over three years. The sector already employs 9% of Namibia’s workforce, but most are low-paying informal jobs. The new policies mandate skills development components in all major contracts, creating pathways into engineering, logistics, and green technology.
Critically, the conference marked a paradigm shift in funding approaches. A proposed Urban Mobility Fund would pool fuel levies, municipal contributions, and private investment – breaking the cycle of underfunding that has left Namibian cities with just 38% of needed transport infrastructure. “We’re done with begging bowls,” Nekundi asserted. “This fund will ensure Windhoek’s taxi fares don’t fund Ondangwa’s roads while our own systems crumble.”
The human impact stories shared at the conference underscored the urgency. Single mother Ndapandula Shikongo testified how her daughter missed 47 school days last year due to unaffordable transport, while entrepreneur Paulus //Garoeb revealed losing 30% of his fresh produce to congestion-related spoilage. These narratives crystallized the government’s message: mobility reform is poverty alleviation in action.
As the conference closed, delegates adopted the Windhoek Mobility Compact – a 10-point plan committing stakeholders to measurable targets including 50% fare reduction for low-income commuters by 2027 and 40% emission cuts from public transport fleets. For a nation where transport costs consume 25% of household budgets in poor communities, these aren’t abstract goals but lifelines to economic participation.
With Namibia’s urbanization rate projected to hit 65% by 2030, the policies forged at this conference may well determine whether cities become engines of inclusive growth or accelerators of inequality. As Minister Nekundi concluded: “We’re not just building roads – we’re building access to dignity. And that, fellow Namibians, is the most valuable infrastructure of all.” The road ahead remains long, but for the first time, there’s a clear map to a more mobile – and more equitable – future.