The City of Windhoek is owed a staggering N$1.2 billion as at May 2023. City spokesperson Lydia Amutenya stated the amount also includes the current accounts that are due for payment in June 2023. 

With this amount, the city issued a public notice this week on the disconnection of services for accounts in arrears for 30 days and older. 

Amutenya noted clients whose services will be affected include residential clients, businesses (any property zoned business), state-owned enterprises and government. 

Namibian consumers are already battered with escalating prices for basic necessities and now have to dig even deeper into their pockets to service their debts with the city.

“The City of Windhoek has exhausted all avenues, given that those responsible for those accounts were notified to settle their accounts as per our credit control policy. The debts are becoming unsustainable, making it hard for us to achieve the mandate of delivering uninterrupted municipal services to our clients and customers,” reads the notice. 

The city asserted: For all accounts in arrears for 30 days and older, if not settled or payment arrangements are not made before 19 June 2023, they will be left with no option but to disconnect the municipal services for such accounts. 

The city has been challenged with commercial risk in its books, and was fighting to manage it.

Auditor general (AG) Junias Kandjeke earlier warned that the city might face trouble in their ability to pay creditors in the near future. The AG gave the municipality a disclaimer of opinion for the 2019/2020 financial report. 

- mndjavera@nepc.com.na