Tses Village Council running on empty

THE Tses Village Council in the South is battling to stave off possible water and electricity cuts, says its Chairman, Petrus Witbooi.

Witbooi yesterday told The Namibian that the Council’s financial crisis is so dire that it cannot settle its debts with NamPower and NamWater. He blamed the council’s financial woes on the Ministry of Regional and Local Government.He said the Ministry had stopped releasing the village’s operational budget funds.A year ago, the Ministry stopped subsidising capital development projects in villages and towns because councils were misusing the money for other purposes, such as paying their utility bills.The suspension of the subsidies resulted in bulk suppliers cutting off water and electricity services because councils could no longer pay for these services.According to Witbooi, the Tses Council and the bulk suppliers are in negotiations to find a solution to the Council’s ever-growing debt.”We hope that the bulk suppliers would set aside Council debts,” Witbooi said.He would not say how much the Council owes the bulk suppliers.Witbooi claimed that the failure by Government Ministries to pay their municipal bills was worsening the Council’s financial crisis.He said the Council was struggling to collect N$34 000 in outstanding electricity bills owed by the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Safety and Security He said the Health Ministry owes the Council N$28 000 and the Ministry of Safety and Security N$6 000.”In the past we were forced on three occasions to suspend water and electricity to the village’s health centre because of non-payment,” he said.He added that poverty and high unemployment among villagers contributed to the Council’s poor revenue collection.He blamed the council’s financial woes on the Ministry of Regional and Local Government.He said the Ministry had stopped releasing the village’s operational budget funds.A year ago, the Ministry stopped subsidising capital development projects in villages and towns because councils were misusing the money for other purposes, such as paying their utility bills.The suspension of the subsidies resulted in bulk suppliers cutting off water and electricity services because councils could no longer pay for these services.According to Witbooi, the Tses Council and the bulk suppliers are in negotiations to find a solution to the Council’s ever-growing debt.”We hope that the bulk suppliers would set aside Council debts,” Witbooi said.He would not say how much the Council owes the bulk suppliers.Witbooi claimed that the failure by Government Ministries to pay their municipal bills was worsening the Council’s financial crisis.He said the Council was struggling to collect N$34 000 in outstanding electricity bills owed by the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Safety and Security He said the Health Ministry owes the Council N$28 000 and the Ministry of Safety and Security N$6 000.”In the past we were forced on three occasions to suspend water and electricity to the village’s health centre because of non-payment,” he said.He added that poverty and high unemployment among villagers contributed to the Council’s poor revenue collection.