KEETMANSHOOP: The Keetmanshoop Municipality on Wednesday threatened to disconnect water and electricity to government offices, businesses and institutions over unpaid municipal accounts.
Keetmanshoop Mayor, McDonald Hanse during a press conference said the suspensions will be carried out in three phases starting on 06 November 2023. In the first phase, the municipality will suspend unpaid municipal accounts for businesses, government entities, and institutions.
“This strategic initiative is designed to address the critical issue of unpaid municipal accounts, secure our resources and ensure that we can continue to provide essential services to all our residents,” said Hanse.
Accounts not settled by 03 November 2023 will face temporary suspension of water and electricity services.
“We understand the challenges many businesses and organisations face, but it is critical for us to ensure that everyone contributes their fair share to maintain the services we all depend on,” he stressed.
The second phase, slated for 04 December 2023, will target municipal staff and councillors, while the third phase, beginning in January next year, will focus on residents.
Lee Mwemba, the municipality’s acting chief executive officer, said the municipality owes NamWater N.dollars 32 million, while residents, government entities, institutions and businesses collectively owe the municipality over N.dollars 212 million for water, rates, taxes, electricity, land sales, and other utilities.
Currently, the municipality’s total monthly revenue stands at N.dollars 6 million, with N.dollars 3.3 million earmarked for NamWater payments and an additional N.dollars 5.2 million required for wages and operations.
Mwemba noted that out of 9 815 active customers, only 2 257 on average pay their accounts monthly.
“Those who do not pay include middle or even upper-class residents, people who are working but don’t pay their accounts. The non-payment hinders service delivery to the general public such as servicing of roads, servicing of land and even our social services that we need to provide to residents,” he said.
Council chairperson Johannes Vries urged residents to make timely payments each month to enable the municipality to continue functioning effectively, delivering essential services, and investing in improved infrastructure and future development.
Source: The Namibia Press Agency