They are turning against us – activist on City of Windhoek for cutting electricity

Social activist Shaun Gariseb says City of Windhoek councillors are turning against residents who voted them into office.

This comes after the city maintains that they will continue blocking prepaid electricity meters of residents who default on their water and rates charges.

“Shamelessly, the City of Windhoek has taken the Electricity Control Board (ECB) to court. They want the ECB to set aside their directive and give the city special dispensation, special permission, to illegally continue blocking electricity; the councillors who we voted for don’t care about us,” Gariseb says.

He accuses the City of Windhoek of fighting against its residents.

“The ECB is not fighting us; it’s the City Of Windhoek that is fighting us all, be ready for necessary action in the coming week,” Gariseb says.

He says they will hold a press conference regarding the matter on 21 November.

The city declined to comment as the case is still in court.

“The matter pertaining to the ECB directive is currently in court, and we cannot comment beyond this point at this stage until then,” City of Windhoek spokesperson Lydia Amutenya said yesterday.

ECB on Friday announced that it cannot currently intervene in cases where local authorities block prepaid electricity meters due to unpaid municipal service bills.

ECB chief executive Robert Kahimise says the practice contravenes the Electricity Act of 2007, as well as subordinate legislation.

“The ECB hereby informs the public that its ruling has since been challenged in a court of law,” Kahimise says.