Namibia: City, Govt in N$357m Barter Deal

What the report says

The City of Windhoek has entered a land-swap arrangement with Namibia’s central government to help settle N$357.8 million in municipal capital debt, according to New Era via AllAfrica. The agreement was signed on 27 April 2026 between the city and the Ministry of Finance, and Cabinet has approved it for implementation in phases. Finance Minister Ericah Shafudah informed Mayor Sakarias Uunona in writing about the deal’s structure and the properties under consideration.

In the first phase, six city properties that have already been valued at about N$291.5 million would cover roughly 81% of the debt, leaving an estimated shortfall of N$66.3 million. The listed parcels include land at Farm 1009 and Farm 1019, parts of Groot Aub, Erf 5727 near the Windhoek Police Station, and Erf 6348, which houses the High-Performance Centre. The article says these sites total about 274.98 hectares.

A second phase is expected to address the remaining amount. The government has asked for additional land around Independence Stadium, while the council has also indicated that any balance could be offset with more residential land in Groot Aub. Separately, the Ministry of Health and Social Services has requested about 1.5 hectares at the Ramatex complex in Otjomuise for a Central Medical Store, but that proposal still needs separate city consideration. The deal still requires further approvals before the debt can be formally certified as settled, making the outcome important for both municipal finances and the future use of key city land parcels.