Windhoek
All ministries and businesses that had their water supply disconnected in Katima Mulilo last week, due to owing the council millions of dollars in outstanding debts, have now been reconnected.
According to the chief executive officer at the town, Charles Nawa, crucial ministries such as health, and safety and security, were reconnected last week already because their outstanding water payments were being processed.
Nawa yesterday confirmed that other ministries and businesses in the town have also now been reconnected. “Cutting water is not a punishment. It is a last resort for the town council. But thus far this week you can see that consumers are queuing up to honour their obligations,” said Nawa. He added that he was happy with the response by both businesses and ministries.
Nawa explained that the Katima Mulilo Town Council (KMTC) buys water from Namwater on a pre-payment basis, meaning the council buys the volume of water its residents require for the specific month.
This arrangement however means that the council cannot continue to pay for water upfront if residents and consumers do not settle their water bills. Nawa continued that the KMTC has managed to reduce its overall water debt with NamWater from N$30 million, where it stood a few years ago, to less than N$20 million today.
“Measures are already in place to ensure consumers settle their water bills as well as their rates and taxes. Consumers are aware of the fact that they have to settle their outstanding accounts by the seventh of each month. We are now striving to ensure closer relations with our officers on the ground and our department of finance needs to improve its communication,” Nawa stated.
The KMTC last week cut the water supply to government ministries and businesses owing millions of dollars in outstanding water debts. Reports originating from Katima Mulilo showed that the Ministry of Works and Transport owed a staggering N$3.7 million while the Ministry of Health and Social Services owed N$800 000, and the Ministry of Safety and Security owed the town council close to N$230 000.