Muesee, the humble mayor of Windhoek

Just the other week, he was attending a wedding at the school. The closest he has to a protector, is his driver, Stanley, a constable for City Police.You might not believe it, but Windhoek Mayor Muesee Kazapua still stays in his aunt’s house. Actually, the backyard flat of his aunt’s house, right behind the shanty Herero Mall, once dubbed the Sodom and Gomora of the OvaHerero.It’s a common grumble that politicians’ lifestyles are far removed from those of their electorate. In fact, Windhoek has only had five Mayors since independence. The longest serving, Matheus Shikongo, lived in the posh Ludwigsdorf suburb of Windhoek while Muesee’s predecessor, Agnes Kafula still resides in a town house in the affluent Windhoek West.But for the youthful 36-year old Kazapua, Katutura is home. And home is where the heart is. Still single, his aunt has his heart for the past 35 years and he now rents the one bed-roomed behind.First elected mayor of Windhoek in December 2014, Kazapua has turned down offers to stay in well-secured City houses across town.“I chose to be here because I want to be where the people are. Even when I was a deputy Mayor I tried to involve myself in the concerns of the people and I knew living here would make me accessible to the people,” His Worship Kazapua says.Laundry is strung outside the house, one half of the ‘washing-line’ is falling, water leaks from a tap outside, overgrown weeds are evident, but other than that, it is a neat place. No police or security detail, a stray dog roams the yard, nothing out of the ordinary.On a given day, the mayor receives about 20 visits from people from around the community, some to deliver their complaints, while others still to thank him to remaining a humble servant.“My friends always get a shock when they find out that I am still living in the same place I used to bring them to watch TV when we were in high school at Augustineum Secondary School, some of them have gone on to become successful businessmen, and they are not so impressed.Some even call the office to complain to management while I am staying here. But that is not something that bothers me,” he says.On this day of the interview it was a Sunday, he had just arrived from a five-minute walk to the Pick ‘n Pay shopping mall to grab some of the coming week’s food.But that’s nothing considering during his youth activist days he would walk to Windhoek West (10km away) for meetings.In fact, he still walks to community meetings in the neighbourhood, to places such as Soweto Market and Damara Lokasie. He avoids taxis because there are certain houses in Katutura which he cannot pass by.For instance, one is right next to Theo Katjimune Primary School, where he attended Grade 1.They still remember that shy boy who walked to his aunt’s house always by himself and avoided large groups. But today, they want to remind him that they are at risk of losing some of their houses.“Visiting these elderly that saw me up grow up cements the bond. Many of them lack knowledge, important knowledge, but have great respect of the system, of the party and of their leaders. We need to earn their trust. Visiting them enables me to inform them,” says the soft spoken Kazapua.“I feel safer with the people. The people are the ones who elected me and they are the ones I am entrusted to lead, so how can they be the ones to harm me? Why do I need a body guards? Namibians are the most peaceful people.”A deeply religious man, wedding plans are in the pipeline. And she has a lot of work to do to transform this man whose room still has those old sofas that are covered by designed cloth and an old television analogue box, next to an old fashioned housing unit.“Since I was a youth activist I have always been against a lavish lifestyle. Perhaps it has to do with my faith in God.”Even his rural home is nothing out of the ordinary. No farm, just few cattle like any other man of his age and background.He recently acquired land in Cimbebasia to build a house and is excited at the challenge, but remains worried about the inequality gap. “The gap between the poor and rich is too wide in this city. In fact, the rich are getting richer and the poor and getting poorer. I think we have some rather selfish people here. How can someone own five houses in the city when we have homeless people, or people being kicked out of their family homes, which they have lived in since they were moved from the Old Location? These are the things that keep me awake at night.”Kazapua accuses most leaders of having a “blind obsession to achieve growth with consumption, as if the contrary would mean the end of the world”.“I may appear to be an eccentric young man… But this is a free choice,” says the man who has neither parking place at his backyard nor a driving license. He gets picked up for work in a City Fortuner every day.How did he get here?During his mid-20s, Kazapua found himself employed as a photocopier and ‘general hands’ at the Swapo offices. The little he gathered was invested for his Business Administration Diploma at IUM. Today he is fully-employed at the Ministry of Youth, Sport and Culture.Humble journeyBorn in 1980, Muesee Kazapua is the youngest member of the Windhoek City Council, representing the ruling party Swapo. He joined the City Council in 2010 following the local authorities elections held in November 2010. He served as a member of the Council’s Management Committee in 2011, before his election as the Deputy Mayor of the City of Windhoek in December 2012. He served as the Chairperson of the Theo Katjimune Primary School from 2003 – 2013.Muesee gathered his political acumen by attending Swapo public lectures, rally, seminars and meetings. While in secondary school Muesee joined the Namibia National Student Organisation (NANSO) in 1996. He secured his SWAPO Party membership card when he reached the age eighteen years and has been an active member of the Party’s Youth League. At that youthful age Muesee’s active political career started with his involvement in student affairs and youth leadership activities, which he served in many capacities.Muesee is a serving member of the Swapo Party Youth League Central Committee.Muesee is currently involved with the social upliftment programs involving youth empowerment projects and a mayoral outreach program involving provision of food and other materials to kindergartens. He holds a Diploma in Youth Development and a Certificate in Local Government Administration and Development Management Programme (MDP) Certificate.1999 – 2010 Served as the Chairperson for the Katutura Central Kindergarten. He is a member of the St. John’s Apostolic Faith Mission Church.2000 – 2004 Served as the Chairperson of the Khomas Regional Youth Forum.2002 – 2005 Board Member of the National Youth Council2015 to dateAlternate Board member: Commonwealth Local Government Forum (CLGF)Muesee is currently the Manager: Stakeholders and International Relations, and the mayor of the City of Windhoek.* Us Namibia is a family and lifestyle magazine covering Namibia’s diversity with content meant to inform, inspire and entertain.

Muesee, the humble mayor of Windhoek

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Namibian Sun 2025-01-23

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Muesee, the humble mayor of Windhoek

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Namibian Sun 2025-01-23

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