NamWater very expensive – Schlettwein

Calle Schlettwein

Agriculture, water and land reform minister Calle Schlettwein says NamWater is still among the most expensive water-supplying utilities.

Schlettwein said this yesterday, while announcing the appointment of new NamWater board members in Windhoek.

He said the utility’s policy is not to make water a business, and NamWater must make sure they supply water at the cheapest price to the consumers.

“The reason for that is we have large informal settlements and poor people stay there. They need and have the right to water as average people. You cannot deprive them of that right,” Schlettwein said.

He said that there is no room for profit making if you want to supply water to poor people.

“Another reason is that if we compare our prices in the region with other water prices, we are the most expensive,” he said.

He said if NamWater wants to be competitive in industrialisation, they must provide cheaper water.

“This again means there is no room for profit. We have a firm policy that the profit motive is not to be implemented on water as a [resource],” Schlettwein said.

He said NamWater can make money with equipment and chemicals but not when they sell water.

Schlettwein instructed the new board to continue with new purification plants at Rundu, Katima Mulilo and Oshakati.

Other projects include rehabilitation work on the Omahenene to Oshakati canal, rerouting of the canal around Oshikuku settlement, rehabilitation work on pipelines supplying rural communities such as the Ondangwa to Omutse Gwonime pipeline, and Ogongo to Oshakati pipeline.

Others are the rehabilitation of the pipeline between Naute and Keetmanshoop and the rehabilitation of pipelines in the central coastal area, strengthening the integrated water supply system.

“The government will continue to support the water sector, and it is vital for NamWater to fulfil its role as the bulk water supplier by diligently managing the implementation of the programmes under the Water Sector Support Programmes,” he said.

Schlettwein said the Cabinet has made a firm commitment to strengthen desalination capacity at the central coast of Namibia by approving the implementation of the SS1 desalination plant.

“NamWater is currently engaged in the implementation of this project, which aims to collaborate with the mines, the biggest consumers of desalinated water. The plant will gradually introduce desalinated water to local authorities, considering the dwindling water resources and associated costs,” he said.

NAMWATER STILL OWED N$1,5 BILLION

Schlettwein said NamWater is still owed over N$1,5 billion by its clients.

He said the utility will catch up with the defaulters by proposing a payment plan.

“The debt figure has not yet changed but we will catch up with it. We have a policy that if defaulters are not coming through, how we will deal with it. It is a hard ball game with the entities that are not paying up, but we will get them,” Schlettwein said.

However, NamWater chief executive officer Abraham Nehemia said the utility requires financing.
He said many clients are reluctant to pay for services.

“The issue of introducing prepaid water meters is in progress but it needs to reach the end users which are the households. We know businesses are able to pay but that mentality of not paying for services rendered is a problem,” Nehemia said.

Nehemia said NamWater is currently engaging local authorities to find the best way to recover their debts.

“We will go to businesses by ensuring that every business has a prepaid water meter. These businesses are the ones that use too much water but they fail to pay up, but we know they can afford it,” he said.

The new NamWater board consists of seven members: Luther Rukira (chairperson), Maenge Shipiki-Kali (vice chairperson), Vivianne Kinyaga, Francis Heunis, Uda Nakamela, Fanuel Uugwanga and Matty Hauuanga.

They will serve for three years.

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