With the lack of water troubles and other challenges that Rundu has been facing over the past years, New Era regional reporter for Kavango East and West, John Muyamba sat down with Rundu CEO Olavi Nathanael to get clarity on these and other issues.
NE: Council has been saying residents aren’t forthcoming with their rates and taxes payments, which, in turn, puts council in a financial predicament. Talk to us about the issue of non-payment in terms of how many households are expected to pay every month and how many actually do pay.
ON: We have approximately 15 000 accounts on the system that is being levied but on average, we only receive payments on 5 000 accounts, which constitutes two-thirds (2/3) being defaulters. At that pace, chances of delivering services to the community is not sustainable at all. What this actually means is that if perhaps council purchases units for N$1 500 000 in August (say 150 000 units, for example) for a population of 100 000 people and only N$500 000 is recovered by council, during the month of September, council will only buy units of N$500 000 (which is 50 000 units) for a population of 100 000 people. This means the units will not last long because it is not enough. (That’s just a scenario)
NE: We understand council spends most of its budget on procuring water for the town. Is this true?
ON: From June 2021 to October 2021, council on average collected N$9 224 843.07 monthly, and half of that amount is used on average to procure water units.
NE: The last councillors at RTC had plans to drill boreholes at selected sites in order to reduce the amount of water procured from NamWater. Council would then buy less water units. What is the latest?
ON: Council conducted a study to determine the areas where the water could be potable and the report was finalised. The idea was not to necessarily cut costs, but in broader sense to complement the water supply, so as to increase pressure for all residents to have access to water. Currently, when there is low pressure, some residents of Queenspark, Millennium, Sauyemwa, to list a few, do not get water. The plans will be implemented soonest; our target is within four months or so, on condition no unforeseen event halts the process.
NE: Rundu recently awarded a tender to a company to repair some roads. Can we have an update on this, including where the funds will come from, what the budget is, and what roads are these?
ON: The bid for roads closed and was evaluated, whereby the lowest evaluated substantially-responsive bid which met the qualification criteria is due for award, pending any application for review by any other bidder within seven days of notice of selection. What this means is that in line with section 55(4)(a) and (b) of the Public Procurement Act, Act 15 of 2015, an accounting officer must, in the prescribed manner and form, notify the successful bidder of its selection of its bid for award, and notify the other bidders, specifying the name and address of the successful bidder as well as the amount. Subsequently, section 55(5) indicates: “In the absence of an application for review by any other bidder within seven days of the notice referred to in subsection (4), the accounting officer must award the contract to the successful bidder.” The application for review referred herein is to be submitted to the Review Panel at the Ministry of Finance and not to Rundu Town Council. The period of seven days referred to for this contract started on 18 November 2021 until 24h November 2021. We were not contacted by the review panel, so we will proceed with the award to the successful bidder.
NE: On the issue of illegal water connections; how many illegal connections have been discovered thus far this year, and how does this affect the running of the town?
ON: We commissioned an operation called ‘Revenue Collection’ in October 2021 as an intervention to our financial troubles and cash flow, and found 10 illegal connections. Apart from our own inspections, the public was also forthcoming with tip-offs that assisted with the operation.
Among the 10 is Sisidi Lodge (erf 1561) that was found with three illegal water connections, which was the second time the owner was caught with illegal water after being previously disconnected for the same issue. Additionally, it was discovered that the same illegal supply passes through the Rent-a-Drum (previously Cola-Cola) building.
Rundu Welding Construction CC (erf 1742) was also found with two sources of illegally-connected water. The owner was given a fine and was advised to come into an agreement with council to work out how he can pay his outstanding bill.
The old police station which serves as their regional headquarters, where their senior offices, including their regional commander, are at (erf 1543), was also found using water without a meter. The service was disconnected immediately, and the relevant people in charge were informed to make arrangements for the building to be reconnected legally through a meter.
It was further unearthed that Shalom Tailoring Academy (erf 1750) had connected an illegal water supply to the academy as well as the flats outside. The services were also disconnected immediately.
A mechanical workshop in the industrial area was also found using water illegally by filling their tank and disconnecting once the tank was full.
Many residential dwellings were also found with illegal water connections. They were all disconnected and fined.
With all these illegal connections and reducing units purchased by council, they contribute to non-revenue water and affects the entire population of Rundu. There are people and institutions benefitting at the expense of others; some are known by their neighbours but they are not reporting them to council. At the end of the day, when the units are depleted and revenue is not collected, everyone suffers.
NE: The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Accounts and Economy has described the Rundu Town Council as the worst local authority in terms of administration after it was discovered that the council could not account for about N$134 million. What is the latest regarding the deadline given to council by the standing committee to submit documents?
ON: On that one, we have submitted what was requested, through the office of our strategic executive for finance and IT. Not everything, but we will keep searching for the documents to validate transactions.