Katutura residents pile pressure on City
Municipality urged to prioritise service delivery
Residents claim the municipality is illegally disconnecting households with prepaid electricity meters who owe money on their water accounts.
Windhoek residents are up in arms over the City of Windhoek’s alleged questionable management of the capital’s water and electricity affairs as well as dubious debt-collection methods, which they say leads to the auctioning of defaulters’ homes.
These frustrations stem from a decision to install prepaid electricity and water meters for every household in the capital, alleged illegal electricity disconnections and the municipality’s purported failure to manage infrastructure.
In a statement issued by the chairperson of Katutura Residents Committee, Benestus Kandundu, the group recommended that the introduction of prepaid water meters be prioritised in categorised low-income areas like Katutura to ensure equitable access to water services, while promoting responsible water usage within the community.
The committee, however, wants the adoption of the meters to be optional to provide room for residents to choose the payment method that suits their financial standing.
The residents also objected to the N$5 000 fee for the installation of prepaid water meters, citing that many cannot afford this.
The committee’s demands come at a time when the City finds itself drowning in debt, with residents collectively owing the municipality over N$1.2 billion in unpaid water and electricity bills.
The City is now forced to grapple with balancing the needs of residents and its own survival.
Inconsistent
Kandundu, a former City councillor, also spoke against the municipality’s trend of disconnecting electricity services to households that have water debts.
“We are of the opinion that the City of Windhoek is engaged in conduct inconsistent with the provisions of the law in disconnecting households with prepaid electricity meters [who owe] on their water accounts, and we therefore seek clarity on the directives used that prescribe such electrical disconnections.
“The conduct of the City violates the law and is prejudicial to the rights of its own inhabitants and is further detrimental to the City, as the unlawful disconnections deprives the City of income from the sale of electricity,” the statement read.
The group recommended that the installation of the meters be payable in instalments, “as the current installation amount of N$5 000 is way too much”.
The politician-turned-activist said the committee has been inundated with concerns from residents who face possible evictions due to excessive debt.
The committee argued that prepaid utility meters can provide greater transparency and accountability in managing household expenses, but residents should have the freedom to opt out if they prefer traditional billing methods.
City should take responsibility
“In Katutura, the residents experience frequent pipe bursts. This is because the underground pipes are very old, and they can just burst any time.
"Even when reported, repairs may take days, weeks or months before being attended to,” Kandundu said.
“The practice is that the water bill for spillage is divided amongst the residents of that area or street where the pipe has burst. This cost is estimated and that is distributed to households, adding to our debts.
“This is done regardless of whether the burst pipe is the main line serving the block or the private household’s connection pipe. Surely, the City itself is responsible for repairing damage and water losses to the main line, its own line, serving the block,” the aggrieved residents said.
Be patient
The committee met with Windhoek mayor Joseph Uapingene last month and handed over a memorandum of demands.
He is yet to respond to the demands as well as a follow-up letter sent last week, but pleaded for patience yesterday.
“They must be patient. I even received the second letter last week when they asked me for an update, but I asked them to just be patient for now.
“We are still busy finalising some of the issues. You must remember, we are not only dealing with residents of Katutura and we are working on a formula that will put them at peace,” he said yesterday.
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These frustrations stem from a decision to install prepaid electricity and water meters for every household in the capital, alleged illegal electricity disconnections and the municipality’s purported failure to manage infrastructure.
In a statement issued by the chairperson of Katutura Residents Committee, Benestus Kandundu, the group recommended that the introduction of prepaid water meters be prioritised in categorised low-income areas like Katutura to ensure equitable access to water services, while promoting responsible water usage within the community.
The committee, however, wants the adoption of the meters to be optional to provide room for residents to choose the payment method that suits their financial standing.
The residents also objected to the N$5 000 fee for the installation of prepaid water meters, citing that many cannot afford this.
The committee’s demands come at a time when the City finds itself drowning in debt, with residents collectively owing the municipality over N$1.2 billion in unpaid water and electricity bills.
The City is now forced to grapple with balancing the needs of residents and its own survival.
Inconsistent
Kandundu, a former City councillor, also spoke against the municipality’s trend of disconnecting electricity services to households that have water debts.
“We are of the opinion that the City of Windhoek is engaged in conduct inconsistent with the provisions of the law in disconnecting households with prepaid electricity meters [who owe] on their water accounts, and we therefore seek clarity on the directives used that prescribe such electrical disconnections.
“The conduct of the City violates the law and is prejudicial to the rights of its own inhabitants and is further detrimental to the City, as the unlawful disconnections deprives the City of income from the sale of electricity,” the statement read.
The group recommended that the installation of the meters be payable in instalments, “as the current installation amount of N$5 000 is way too much”.
The politician-turned-activist said the committee has been inundated with concerns from residents who face possible evictions due to excessive debt.
The committee argued that prepaid utility meters can provide greater transparency and accountability in managing household expenses, but residents should have the freedom to opt out if they prefer traditional billing methods.
City should take responsibility
“In Katutura, the residents experience frequent pipe bursts. This is because the underground pipes are very old, and they can just burst any time.
"Even when reported, repairs may take days, weeks or months before being attended to,” Kandundu said.
“The practice is that the water bill for spillage is divided amongst the residents of that area or street where the pipe has burst. This cost is estimated and that is distributed to households, adding to our debts.
“This is done regardless of whether the burst pipe is the main line serving the block or the private household’s connection pipe. Surely, the City itself is responsible for repairing damage and water losses to the main line, its own line, serving the block,” the aggrieved residents said.
Be patient
The committee met with Windhoek mayor Joseph Uapingene last month and handed over a memorandum of demands.
He is yet to respond to the demands as well as a follow-up letter sent last week, but pleaded for patience yesterday.
“They must be patient. I even received the second letter last week when they asked me for an update, but I asked them to just be patient for now.
“We are still busy finalising some of the issues. You must remember, we are not only dealing with residents of Katutura and we are working on a formula that will put them at peace,” he said yesterday.
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