Leadership in Action - Inauguration of the Junior City Council 2026-2027

On Tuesday we are proud to attend the inauguration of the new Junior City Council for 2026-2027 at the City Council Chambers. This was a memorable event, as this marked once again the transition of one team of young councillors to the next. 

The vision of the city of Windhoek – "To be a Sustainable and Caring City by 2027" – as well as the theme of this inauguration – "Youth Rising, Namibia Thriving" – resonates well with our WIS Principles of People, Purpose, Excellence and Sustainability. 

WIS has been represented in the Junior City Council (JCC) since 2019 and we appreciate the commitment of our Junior Councillors to the betterment of the City of Windhoek and its citizens. This year, 38 schools in Windhoek are participating in the Junior City Council. This is a remarkable achievement by the City of Windhoek and it further shows the relevance and importance of involving young people in governance structures in communities and society at large. 

This event was marked by the presence of the JCC from the previous year handing over to the new team of councillors. Emphasizing the significance of this event was the presence of the mayor of the City of Windhoek, His Worship Councillor Sackarias Uunona as well as the CEO of the City of Windhoek, Mr Moses Matyayi. In their addresses to the young people present, they emphasized the significance of the youth being part of the decision-making process of the City of Windhoek – they are the ones identifying the challenges and coming up with solutions that can then be attended to by the City of Windhoek. They are the ones that are aware of the challenges we are facing as citizens as well as young people. And they are the ones that will find solutions to address our challenges in the future. The importance of including young people in the process of decision-making was clearly outlined in the different speeches during the inauguration. 

WIS wishes our incoming councillors, Lesedi Nyambe and Alexander Smith (Grade 10) all the best for their tenure. We also want to appreciate and thank our outgoing councillors Tapiwanashe Murwira and Klaudia Shino for their service to our community and in particular to our under-served citizens. We appreciate that you are adding your voice to the leadership of our city to make a difference in the lives of the people of this city. 

Respectfully 

Maggie Reiff

High School Principal and Career Guidance Counsellor