KEETMANSHOOP – A group of concerned residents took to the streets yesterday, protesting against the Keetmanshoop Town Council’s intention to establish a Southern Regional Electricity Distribution (Sored) company as a new electricity provider for residents of the southern town.
When reading out a petition handed over to mayor McDonald Hanse, spokesperson of the group Vernon Colman asked for the intervention of President Hage Geingob and Urban and Rural Development Minister Erastus Uutoni to stop the establishment of Sored in the //Kharas and Hardap regions.
“We don’t see any benefit from Sored that was created as middlemen to make electricity unaffordable for the residents,” he argued.
Colman continued that residents (through the town council) were recently relieved from Selco, the previous electricity distributor, after suffering huge losses through court cases and debts.
“We are maintaining Keetmanshoop Municipality on a daily basis through paying for the provision of basic services, namely water, electricity and sewer and believe this Southern Regional Electricity Distribution company will just waste our money again,” said Colman.
The spokesperson added the so-called directors of such a company will only create a platform for themselves to promote corruption, nepotism and favouritism.
“Our biggest concern is that we, as the first stakeholders and end-users of electricity, were never consulted in the initial process of the establishment of the company,” he said.
He also reasoned that residents are the buyers of electricity and that the political leadership at council have the responsibility to first consult the community before such decisions are taken.
“We are being used by our leadership to be sold out by our votes,” Colman raised the concern.
The spokesperson also said the current electricity provider, namely Keetmanshoop Electricity Business Unit (Kebu), is a profit-making business model, hence no need to substitute it with a Sored company.
Also speaking during the protest, Frans Basson said it became clear today that the community has lost trust in the political leadership at the council.
“Why can’t the councillors not just come out and receive our petition; do they not trust the law enforcement officer present if they felt threatened by our presence,” he asked.
He also opined that the establishment of Sored will, just like in the past with Selco, make a few people instant millionaires, while the rest of the community struggle to make ends meet.
“We also know the contract was already signed and also the names of the directors and shareholders of Sored,” he added.
Emotions also soared during a Keetmanshoop Municipality meeting Wednesday evening when residents walked out of the meeting when they were informed about decisions like Sored to be implemented by council.
When receiving the petition, Hanse acknowledged receipt of it and promised to revert to the concerned group.
Colman gave council until next Tuesday to respond or they would continue protesting.
- sklukowski@nepc.com.na