Rundu tables N$152 million provisional budget

Tabling the budget on Friday, mayor Gabriel Kanyanga said the budget is subject to approval by the Ministry of Urban and Rural Development.

According to Kanyanga, the council”;s tariff structure in terms of essential services such as water, refuse removal, sewer services, and municipal assessment rates and taxes remain unchanged, with only the introduction of new tariffs such as ploughing services and illegal sewage disposal.

He said the council intends to survey four extensions to promote land tenure and property ownership, and made a budget provision to extend the water networks to take potable water closer to the people.

“It is our plan to rehabilitate pump stations at Rundu Extension 8 and 29. This will help to address the sewer volumes that will be generated by the abattoir upon commencement of operations. We believe that this might create employment for our residents,” he said.

Kanyanga said because the land at Rundu Extension 8 was already brought, the council has prioritised electrifying the industrial area to revive activities and generate revenue that will be used to subsidise the construction of infrastructural services in the informal areas.

He said the council had budgeted a total of N$5 million, with additional funding from the Road Fund Administration of N$6 million for road maintenance and tarring.

Kanyanga also stressed that the council plans to extend Eugene Kakukuru Road to a dual carriageway towards the circle and rehabilitate John Mutorwa Road from the four-way stop going west until the cemetery of Sauyemwa, which has been damaged extensively.

“We have also made budgetary provision for the re-gravelling of damaged gravel roads, gravelling of sandy roads, as well as general road maintenance,” said Kanyanga.

The council has managed to drill boreholes at Kehemu tower and Ndama location, with a provision to purchase a booster pump for the Kehemu tower and a water tank for the Ndama borehole, he said.

The council has set aside N$1,2 million to commence with the installation of a prepaid water system in the informal settlement, N$2 million to survey new erven, and N$3 million for the gravelling of streets in residential areas.

“Given the projections contained in the budget, we thus plea with the residents and beneficiaries of services to honour their obligations and pay for their municipal services to ensure sustainable and continuous provision of services,” Kanyanga said.