KEETMANSHOOP - A week after a Keetmanshoop councillor caught NamWater workers installing a bulk prepaid meter despite ongoing debt negotiations, the utility has moved to pour cold water over flaring tempers.
Johannes Shigwedha, NamWater’s spokesperson said although the company may install a pre-paid water meter on its infrastructure close to any defaulting local authority, such a meter will not be activated without having signed an agreement between the corporation and any local authority in question.
He issued a media release following an uproar in the southern town last week at the Keetmanshoop Municipality Water Reservoir when NamWater staff moved to finalise the installation of the meter. “NamWater has successfully installed and commissioned a few pre-paid water meters to some of the then defaulting local authorities and negotiations are underway to connect more onto the pre-paid system,” explained Shigwedha.
He said a pre-paid water meter system is just one of the debt recovery strategies available and a defaulting local authority may still choose other options to settle its arrears.
“This initiative has been prompted by the rising debt owed to NamWater by a number of local authorities,” said Shigwedha.
Keetmanshoop council chairperson Easter Isaak posted a video recording of NamWater employees trying to install the water meter.
“After our last meeting, we agreed that NamWater, the Keetmanshoop town council and the urban and rural development and agriculture ministries will sit together to find an amicable solution for this issue of debt and that no PPWM will be installed. But now, the same NamWater comes here today in a cunning way of water infrastructure maintenance at the reservoir, and are now busy installing the water meter,’’ Isaak charged.
Shigwedha also said the concept of pre-paid water meters was introduced by the corporation in 2019. “Defaulting local authorities have been receiving numerous demands and interventions to pay, however, their accounts remain in arrears, continue to increase with abnormal amounts and puts a heavy burden on NamWater to ensure financial sustainability of the corporation to be able to provide efficient services to the Namibian nation,” he responded.
He also stated that the entity does not force local authorities into agreeing to a particular debt recovery method, like the installation and commissioning of water meters, but can advise such debtors on the best options available to settle their debts for the supply of bulk water accordingly.
“Any payment option is signed only after all the parties have reached consensus through stakeholder engagement,” said Shigwedha.
He further explained that all the relevant stakeholders such as the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform, Ministry of Urban and Rural Development and the attorney general’s office (regarding the legality of agreements) are consulted in advance for their input in such instances.
NamWater, according to the press statement, does not receive any subsidy from the government and carries out its mandate by supplying water on a cost recovery basis.
“This means that the water utility depends entirely on money collected from its customers in order to be able to supply water and further invest in water infrastructure.”
The spokesperson concluded that the bulk water supplier will remain committed to fulfilling its mandate but it can only meet this obligation if the customers and all stakeholders also commit themselves to playing their role to achieve the goal of access to water for all Namibians.
Following up on a meeting taking place last Friday between NamWater and Keetmanshoop Municipality, as a means to address the water supply crisis, the municipality’s spokesperson, Dawn Kruger informed New Era that the meeting was fruitful and that mayor McDonald Hanse, who attended it, was highly impressed with the spirit in which the water supplier approached the meeting.
“Keetmanshoop town council has committed itself during the negotiations to definitely settle our current account,” said Kruger.
She said council will also commit itself to address the issue of the outstanding debt.
“Council will now arrange meetings with the community, businesses and government institutions who owe monies for the supply of water in order to get their commitment to pay their arrear accounts and furthermore ensure they buy into the concept of debt settlement with the water utility,” she explained. Kruger added that based on the outcome of such meetings and confirmation of payment by its customers, council can then revert to NamWater on an agreed amount to be paid monthly regarding the outstanding debt.
NamWater was established by an Act of Parliament, Act 12 of 1997, and registered as a company on 9 December 1997, to supply water in bulk to bulk. Government is the sole shareholder.
- sklukowski@nepc.com.na