[On 5 December 2025 Mr Leonard Hango was sworn-in as the Mayor of Oshakati. This was his acceptance statement.]
“I am indeed delighted and feel privileged this morning to stand before you at this historical moment in witnessing our leadership transition, which resulted from a democratic process.
Permit me at the onset to express my sincere and heartfelt gratitude to my fellow honourable councillors for the trust and confidence they have placed in me by electing me as a Town Mayor of Oshakati Local Authority and by default as a chairperson of Council as per the provision of the governing law.
I accept this responsibility with humility, respect and an unwavering commitment to serve our people and fulfil our mandate as a local authority with outstanding track record.
To the electorates, you have done an honourable TASK, now we shall complete the assignment at hand, which is to formalise all our informal settlements in town towards the attainment of our goals of declaring Oshakati informal settlement free as directed and supported by the Government. We are already halfway, just wait and see. This is our promise to you!
Oshakati Town has developed tremendously over the past years, from a modest township into a dynamic urban centre that continues to attract investment, business opportunities, and a home for a diverse community.
This transformation is a testament to the resilience, hardwork and collective efforts of those who came before us and built a strong foundation for this town.
As we assume office today, we are called upon to strengthen this legacy and continue shaping this beautiful town, Oshakati, as we call it “the Commercial Centre of the North”.
Our mandate remains clear and compeling, which is “to provide sustainable quality urban services within the principles of good corporate governance”. This mandate is aligned to our vision, whereby we envision “to become an industrialised, commercialised, and preferred city in Namibia”.
Therefore, we must continue to collaborate, plan strategically, act decisively, and serve with integrity. This vision is not just the council’s responsibility, it is a shared dream that belongs to every resident of Oshakati. Hence, we should all align and own this vision in all aspects.
We acknowledge the development strides made over the past years, including the expansion of urban infrastructure, formalisation of informal settlements, enhancement of service delivery, and strengthening of partnerships with various stakeholders.
Yet, we are equally aware of the ongoing challenges confronting our town from land delivery and increasing housing demands, urban poverty, youth unemployment, urban safety, and the need for stronger community engagement.
These challenges need to be addressed and require collaboration, partnership with the private sector, strong community engagement and responsive leadership.
As the governing body of Oshakati town, we reaffirm our commitment to promote development, attracting investments and stimulating local economic development. We will continue to prioritise inclusive development, ensuring that no resident is left behind, and that every member of our community is positively impacted by our work.
We pledge and commit ourselves to lead with fairness, professionalism, accountability, transparency and always uphold our oath of office. We shall listen to our residents, engage them openly, and uphold the principles of servant leadership.
Our focus will remain on advancing the socio-economic wellbeing of our people.
To all our stakeholders including government institutions, the business community, civil society organisations, traditional leaders and residents, thank you for joining us today for this significant occasion. We look forward walking this journey with you.
Together, we can continue to transform Oshakati into a thriving competitive and sustainable urban centre.
At the end, I would like to use this opportunity to wish you all a happy Christmas and prosperous New Year 2026 filled with joy and success!
It is now my singular honour and privilege to accept the Mayoral portfolio with confidence and without any reservation.
I thank you all and stay blessed!”
