Tsumeb Municipality workers have downed tools following failed salary and wage negotiations between the Namibia Local Authority Workers Union (NALAWU) and Council  for 2025/2026 financial year.

The strike, which saw offices locked and public members turned away from being served, follows a demonstration of July 2025, in which workers demanded better salaries and benefits, but the petition was snubbed by the council.

Leading the strike, NALAWU's Secretary General Chris Katjitundu says they are dismayed by poor governance at the council, which has not reviewed salaries and wages for over ten years.

"What we have realised is that the management and the entire council, councillors, don't care about the workers. They don't care about the workers. What we are fighting for, we are not fighting the councillors; we are not fighting the government. What we are fighting for is the welfare and the well-being of the workers. If we can get the welfare and the well-being of our workers, then I think this strike will come to an end." 

Katjitundu added the union is seeking answers on why the council is declining salary increments due to lack of funds but has money to pay a South African company to conduct verification audits.

They also want the council to put up a structure alignment as compared to other municipalities.

"Tsumeb Municipality is part of two municipalities, and if you go and look at their benefits and salary, you can compare it to a village council. So we just ask for a simple 4% from the council, but they don't even want to do it."

The union's SG also called on the line ministry to investigate the council on its hiring of labour consultants and other grievances within the council.

Attempts to get comments from the council's acting chief executive officer, Frans Enkali, were turned down.