Lahja Nashuuta

The Mariental Municipality has waived more than N$1.3 million in debts owed by senior citizens, providing much-needed financial relief to the town’s elderly residents.

The decision follows a council resolution adopted during a regular meeting on 1 September, where councillors agreed to forgive debts for registered pensioners who have had difficulty paying their municipal bills.

According to Acting CEO Ellen Ngozu, the council wrote off a total of N$1 266 880.05, covering 249 accounts belonging to senior citizens. 

Ngozu said the initiative is part of the municipality’s commitment to ensuring that older residents live with dignity and without the burden of unpaid municipal charges.

“Our senior citizens have contributed greatly to the development of Mariental over the years. Many are now living on limited pensions and cannot keep up with the rising cost of municipal services,” Ngozu stated.

She added, “This debt write-off is a gesture of gratitude and social responsibility from the council to honour their contribution and ease their financial hardships”.

She revealed that the debt cancellation aligns with the rollout of prepaid water meters, scheduled to start within the next two weeks. 

The system aims to encourage responsible water use and prevent future arrears.

“We want to ensure that the same challenges do not repeat themselves. With prepaid meters, residents, especially the elderly, can better manage their consumption and avoid accumulating new debts,” she noted.

Over 2 900 prepaid meters are expected to be installed.

The Acting CEO added that the initiative aligns with the council’s broader social relief and financial management strategy, which aims to strike a balance between compassion and accountability.

The municipality urged residents to keep fulfilling their civic duties to maintain service delivery and ensure fairness among all ratepayers.

“This is a one-time intervention for a vulnerable group. We remain committed to building an inclusive, caring and financially stable Mariental,” said Ngozu.

-lnashuuta@nepc.com.na