The City of Windhoek and Freie Hansestadt Bremen have solidified sister-city ties, focusing on waste management, wastewater treatment, youth, education and culture.
The cities formalised their long-standing relationship by signing a Sister-City Agreement.
The Mayor of Windhoek, Queen Omagano Kamati, said the agreement represents a renewed commitment to sustainability and innovation between the two cities.
She highlighted the significance of the partnership during the signing ceremony, emphasising the shared history between the two cities.
“Through this Sister-City Agreement, we are opening new avenues of cooperation in areas such as water management, waste treatment, education, and cultural exchanges. This partnership reflects our shared values of sustainability, innovation, and solidarity, guiding us as we embark on this exciting new chapter,” she said.
Kamati further underscored the historical significance of Bremen’s support during Namibia’s liberation struggle, dating back to 1975.
“Our cooperation of today is built on the signing in 2000 of the Charter Agreement on the Local Agenda 21, built on a commitment that through knowledge and creativity we can develop a stable lifestyle for the future, planning and administering our cities with the aim of sustainability and respect for the environment,” she noted.
Kamati also recognised the progress made through this partnership over the past decades with various projects that focus on recycling and poverty alleviation as important milestones.
“Since then, Windhoek and Bremen have successfully collaborated on various projects that have made significant contributions to the sustainable development of our city. Projects, such as the Decentralised Wastewater Treatment System (DEWATS) and our innovative Solid Waste Management initiatives, reflect our mutual commitment to addressing challenges around poverty, unemployment, and environmental management,” she said.
Bremen Mayor Andreas Bovenschulte, during his address, spoke about the partnership’s deeper meaning, stressing that while formal agreements are important.
“It is important to have formal agreements. As a lawyer, I’m very much into formal agreements because that gives you structure and guidelines. But to tell the truth, the core of a partnership is not the agreements, it’s the human beings living this partnership and working on common goals with both their minds and hearts,” he said.
As the two cities face increasing global challenges such as climate change, migration, and social inequalities, Bovenschulte expressed hope that the Sister-City Agreement will serve as a framework for cooperation in addressing these issues at the local level.
“We are increasingly confronted with global challenges, challenges that we also have to tackle at a local level and that we can only work on together. The areas mentioned in our agreement will be important milestones in reaching this task,” he noted.
