City defaulters to face water, power cuts over unpaid bills

Lydia Amutenya

The City of Windhoek is on the verge of cutting off water and electricity supplies of defaulters.

Defaulters include state-owned enterprises and private companies that have accounts older than 30 days.

The City of Windhoek has once again threatened to cut the water and electricity of clients who collectively owe it N$1,2 billion.

The municipality, in a notice issued on Tuesday, warned defaulters that next week on Monday the city’s debt management division will suspend all services of accounts in arrears.

The municipality’s spokesperson Lydia Amutenya said the defaulters’ debts have become unsustainable, making it hard for the municipality to achieve its mandate of delivering basic municipal services to its residents and customers.

“We have exhausted all the procedures, given that those responsible for these accounts were notified to settle their accounts as per the city’s credit control policy,” Amutenya said.

She added that they will continue to terminate the services for all accounts in arrears 30 days and older, if not settled or payment arrangements made before Monday.

Questions sent to the government’s information minister Peya Mushelenga were not answered by the time of going to print.

Windhoek councillor Austin Kwenani told The Namibian that residents are stuck between a rock and a hard place, as the municipality threatens to cut services to defaulters.

Kwenani said residents deal with numerous hardships, including constant increases in utilities, fuel and food costs with no salary increases in sight.

I know those obligations as well. I’m also struggling like anybody else,”

Despite acknowledging that the municipality needs money, Kwenani sympathised with those who cannot afford to pay their accounts.

“Some residents are genuinely struggling. The economic hardships are not only in Namibia,” Kwenani said.

However, he added that their service providers also need to be paid what is due to them.

“At the same time, we have entities like NamWater or NamPower that also need to provide this service that’s costing money,” Kwenani said.

The councillor said residents are faced with increasing interest and electricity rates along with high fuel costs.

“The water and electricity that they have are in houses they are paying the bank for. I also have obligations I am struggling to meet,” he said.

Stay informed with The Namibian – your source for credible journalism. Get in-depth reporting and opinions for only N$85 a month. Invest in journalism, invest in democracy –
Subscribe Now!

Latest News