Studying after dark has become an impossible task for Helena Fredricks, as her home has been plunged into darkness. 

Without electricity, she, like many others, is unable to charge her cell phone and laptops – essential tools for accessing study materials and staying connected. 

“Exams have started. With the disconnection of water and electricity, we are at a disadvantage, as we have to compete with other pupils or students who have water and electricity services in their homes. We stand a chance of failing. If we fail, we will hold the City of Windhoek responsible for our results,” the Jacob Marengo Secondary School learner said last week.

She is among hundreds of Katutura residents, including learners, pensioners and students who have voiced their overwhelming frustration, discomfort and stress, caused by the abrupt disconnection of water and electricity services in their homes.

This alarming situation has left the community of Katutura in dire straits, and they are calling for swift and immediate action to restore these essential services. 

Fredericks added the disconnection of water and electricity is causing major discomfort and poor sanitation results to the girl-child. 

On top of that, they are unable to cook a decent meal to eat in the morning and after school, which causes them to go to school and write exams on an empty stomach. 

Furthermore, it is difficult to find firewood in the bush to cook a meal, and it is also very dangerous for the girl-child because of GBV issues, such as rape. 

“Seeing our parents stressed, suffering from depression and other chronic illnesses daily makes us feel very hopeless and lost. We feel like just dropping out of school and engaging in whatever prostitution or selling drugs to help our parents,” a despondent Fredricks said. 

She further stated that as the future leaders of tomorrow, they have lost dignity, and their self-esteem is very low because of the stigmatisation of those who do not have water and electricity from society and their peers. 

Senior citizens

Pensioner Ellen Johannes stated that the old people from Katutura feel the City has forgotten about the plight of the old people. They want to help themselves by running small businesses from home, but they are unable to because of the disconnection of water and electricity. 

“Why are they disconnecting our electricity if we are owing them for water? Why are they disconnecting our water for our rates and taxes accounts? We are suffering! Why are they not even willing to take small down payments that we bring to them?” she asked. 

Johannes added that their pension of N$1 400 is very small to make a living and still pay municipal bills. 

 Residents say Red Force, the company contracted by the City to collect its debt, is killing them with high down payment plans. 

Chairman of the Katutura Residents Committee Benestus Kandundu said the committee had written a letter to President Hage Geingob in which they are praying for his intervention in convening a tripartite meeting between the central government, the City of Windhoek and the community. 

“Our fight is not entirely for the debt to be written off, but for the entire City of Windhoek system to undergo a complete overhaul,” he added.

Kandundu emphasised that the people of Katutura are now sitting with debts that have skyrocketed as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, but the City’s stance on debt collection and its operations remain the same. 

RedForce

Julius Nyamazana, the CEO of RedForce Debt Management, told New Era earlier that they are guided by processes and laws, and do not randomly target people.

“RedForce is not an illegal entity that is conducting some illegal activities – no! We are contracted by the City of Windhoek – and as per our professional and contractual agreement, we have an obligation to meet certain targets in our agreement, and we are simply just living up to that agreement. We are not the enemy of the residents as some people portray us,” said Nyamazana.

City of Windhoek spokesperson Harold Akwenye was quoted in The Namibian as saying the City sympathises with residents, and is protecting residents against debt accumulation.

“We protect the residents against their own defaulting, so go look for the money and come pay. If we leave it, it’s going to escalate,” he said.

- epicnakwezy@gmail.com