Okahandja’s RedForce debt row, water woes and informal settlement delays drag on

Tensions at Okahandja remain high as residents express frustration over the RedForce Debt Management saga, slow informal settlement upgrades, and ongoing water shortages.

Many residents say they are unaware of what the municipality is doing to address these challenges.

Speaking to Desert FM on Wednesday, Okahandja deputy mayor Aksel Aupindi acknowledged that RedForce Debt Management’s contract has been a long-standing issue, but said the municipality’s hands are tied until the Ministry of Urban and Rural Development decides on the way forward.

“We have a new minister now in the office, and we believe that new brooms always clean fast and well,” he said.

Residents, however, continue to report threats over unpaid water and service fees.

Aupindi assured them that RedForce must follow specific procedures.

“RedForce is not allowed to threaten residents and cannot just go and close water without prior approval from the council,” he said.

On informal settlement upgrades, Aupindi highlighted that the municipality partnered with students from the Namibia University of Science and Technology (Nust) to help plan improvements.

The process has, however, been delayed due to a lack of community contributions.

“The council decided the process is too slow, let’s go in the pocket and take another N$500 000 so we can cover the whole amount, and the surveyors will start with the surveying,” he said.

Water shortages have also been of major concern. Heavy rains recently burst a key water pipe, cutting off supply for several days. The municipality has since restored water and is working on a long-term fix.

“We want to have the pipe moved on top of the bridge so we would not have the same situation when rain comes,” Aupindi said.