Tension in Katutura is rising, as residents are preparing to take their umpteenth demonstration to State House today in demand of the elimination of the City of Windhoek’s debt collector, Redforce.
The residents are also demanding that the City write off all debt and introduce pre-paid meters for electricity and water to residents affected by outstanding debt owed to the municipality.
The residents gathered on Wednesday at the Jakob Marengo Secondary School to voice their grievances.
Bennedus Kandundu, chairperson of the Katutura Residents’ Committee, said the City’s lack of proactive solutions has left them with no option but to demonstrate and hand over the petition to Parliament and President Hage Geingob directly.
Kandundu emphasised the multifaceted nature of their demands, which included addressing the contentious presence of debt collector Redforce, alleviating financial burdens through full debt write-offs, and implementing prepaid systems for essential utilities.
With notifications sent to Namibian police and Parliament, the residents are poised to voice their concerns directly to the President as they highlight the pressing need for comprehensive solutions to the challenges facing Katutura.
“The Katutura residents committee has pledged to embark on a fight for the dignity of the residents of that sprawling neighbourhood – and this is one battle in which we are relentless in the pursuit of glory. Not for us, but for Windhoek, as a collective,” he said. He added they have been pleading to meet with the City of Windhoek, but it seems they are not willing to meet with them for a constructive dialogue.
Kandundu said the City is playing with the minds of the residents, something they will not stand for.
“Why is the City of Windhoek protecting Redforce while the residents are crying?” he questioned.
One of the residents, Patrick Eiseb, said the City has demonstrated they do not care about the residents.
“Elections are coming, and they are teaching us to have a different mindset when it comes to voting because the people we are voting for are starving us,” he said.
He added that they have been crying for too long – and if the issue could have been taken seriously, they would have resolved it by now.
The demonstration is going ahead, despite last week’s announcement by the City that it plans to launch a relief programme in 2024, aimed at writing off interest accumulated by the debtors.
However, the City has since faced criticism over its decision to only write off interest on N$524 million owed to it by the residents.
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