Over 300 pensioners from Katutura in Windhoek took to the streets yesterday, demanding that the City of Windhoek write off their municipal debts and introduce a prepaid water and electricity system.

The pensioners, in their peaceful demonstration through Independence Avenue to the City headquarters, held posters, demanding the removal of current debts, stressing that they are unable to pay off their accumulated water bills after the Covid-19 pandemic.

Reading a petition on their behalf, Benestus Kandundu said the Covid-19 pandemic had a devastating impact on pensioners, and the majority are left with substantial amounts of water debts. 

This has resulted in the City cutting off their water and electricity, as well as contracting Red Force debt collectors to recover debts from the pensioners.

Kandundu said the City’s approach to contract Red Force is devastating for the pensioners, stressing that there should be alternative ways that the City can recover defaulted accounts of pensioners.

“We understand that the City also needs to look after its operations, but we, as residents, are recommending a roundtable with the City to give suggestions on how we should go about paying off the debts as residents of Windhoek in order to meet halfway,” he said.

Kandundu further demanded the introduction of a prepaid water and electricity system for pensioners, noting that most houses are still under the conventional system where water is billed according to estimations. 

This creates a burden for pensioners, as the majority of the pipes were installed in 1964 and are old.

Angresia Awases (62) from the Dolam residential area said she owes the municipality an accumulated water bill of N$37 000 and was informed to settle at least N$15 000 for the municipality to reconnect the water. 

Currently, she is living without water and electricity, as the municipality disconnected both.

“Where will I get N$15 000? I depend only on my pension of N$1 300 – and from my pension, I pay N$700 towards the house alone... the City can at least sit with us to discuss alternative ways of paying while they reconnect our water and electricity,” she noted.

Receiving the petition, Windhoek Mayor Joseph Uapingene welcomed the pensioners’ suggestion of a roundtable with the City to discuss alternative amicable ways to settle debts. 

He noted that the City purchases water and electricity from NamWater and NamPower only once residents have settled their accounts.

“If we cannot get money from our residents, how do we pay our suppliers? We also don’t want to see the whole Windhoek cut off – that is why sometimes we take actual decisions where residents can come meet us halfway,” he said. - Nampa