City of Windhoek Addresses Misleading Reports Regarding Hospital Land

The City of Windhoek (CoW) has clarified misleading reports that claimed it is selling land designated for the Windhoek District Hospital. In an article titled “CoW Puts Windhoek District Hospital Land on Sale,” published in the Windhoek Observer on 24 October 2024, inaccuracies may have caused confusion among the public.

The article incorrectly suggests that the CoW is selling land allocated for the construction of a District Hospital to a private entity. It also implies that the Ministry of Health and Social Services misled the public by holding a mock groundbreaking ceremony.

To clarify, the City Council allocated Portion 1024 of the Remainder of Farm 508 to the Ministry of Health and Social Services in January 2017, as per Resolution 08/01/2017. This allocation was specifically made for constructing a District Hospital. To prevent potential land invasions, the Ministry was permitted to fence off the site while the necessary statutory processes, including public notices for objections, are completed.

The Objection Notice mentioned in the article is a standard legal requirement under Section 63(2) of the Local Authorities Act. This mandates public notification and allows residents to raise concerns regarding land use or development proposals. This routine process ensures transparency and community involvement in urban development projects.

The City of Windhoek assures the public that this process is transparent and fully complies with legal requirements. The land remains designated for the Ministry of Health and Social Services, and the City will continue working with the Ministry to complete all necessary statutory processes for the development of the hospital.