ONDANGWA – Electricity Control Board (ECB) CEO Robert Kahimise has urged the public to avoid using unregistered electricity contractors to prevent potentially fatal accidents.
He made the plea during a media conference in Ondangwa on Tuesday, where he said possessing electrical skills does not automatically qualify someone to perform electrical installations.
His warning follows the revelation that the Electricity Supply Industry (ESI) recorded a total of 17 electrical accidents and eight fatalities over the past four years.
Notably, seven of these accidents, resulting in five fatalities, occurred within the Northern Electricity Distribution (NORED) operational area.
“The ECB has been closely monitoring incident trends within the ESI. The number of incidents is on the rise. This trend calls for immediate intervention to ensure that safety is restored within the industry,” he said.
He said in response to the high accident rate in the NORED licence area, the ECB appointed an independent industry expert to investigate various incidents, including those involving NORED employees.
Specific safety directives were issued to NORED management, with 70% of these directives now implemented.
NORED acting CEO Toivo Shovaleka expressed concern over the electrical incidents on the company’s network.
He said they directly contradict NORED’s strategic objective of ensuring zero harm to employees, the community and the public.
“The company has noted a culture of non-compliance with regulatory safety tools, such as the Namibia Electricity Safety Code,” Shovaleka said.
He added that they have noted that some homeowners and business owners hire unlicensed contractors and electricians for electrical work.
“I would like to remind them that “cheap” labour is very costly. They should refrain from this option,” he added.
Shovaleka stressed the potential danger of electricity and the significant risks associated with employing unlicensed individuals for electrical installations, which endangers themselves and their families.
-Nampa