Windhoek emulates Joburg’s heritage model

• By Martha Nangombe

The City of Windhoek plans to acquire houses in a host of townships in the capital where heroines and heroes of the liberation struggle dwelled in yesteryear which they intend to refurbish and covert into heritage sites.

The main goal of this project is to transform the apartheid-era legacy of the Katutura and Khomasdal townships, into vibrant hubs offering employment creation opportunities, as well as experiences for people to immerse themselves in Namibian culture and art.

The Council has approved the identification, nomination, and conservation of seven houses in Katutura and Khomasdal that are over fifty years old to be declared as heritage resources at its recently held meeting on 31 August 2023.

“While the city center has monuments and statues, there are no official heritage resources in Katutura or Khomasdal. The aim is to create a cultural precinct by developing a trail around the townships. The houses, located in the following locations and townships: Herero, Damara, Wambo, Donkerhoek, Gemengde, and Khomasdal areas will be selected based on the significance of their first occupants and will be transformed to tell the stories of social, political, and educational icons of the 1960s,” a resolution adopted by Council on the issue reads.

For more on this & other stories: Grab a copy of the Newspaper