WALVIS BAY – Residents of Walvis Bay can breathe a sigh of relief after the municipality announced an amnesty period starting from 10 September until 31 December to give those with huge water debts the opportunity to have their penalties or interest accrued on outstanding amounts written off.
This exercise is not aimed at writing off the amounts of debts owed by customers and consumers but only at having the interest or penalties written off when they settle their capital debt within the stated period.
The announcement was made by the deputy mayor, Councilor Benson Uakumbua on Tuesday evening during the ordinary council meeting held at the municipal chambers at the coastal town.
Uakumbua said that residents whose accounts are in arrears can now make use of the amnesty period, during which time the interest portion on all accounts in arrears will be written off.
According to Uakumbua, council, observed with great worry how many families and homeowners are struggling to make ends meet especially when it comes to paying for basic services such as water and electricity.
“It is a well-known fact that many members of our community are struggling to settle their municipal bills for a number of reasons. As such, when accounts remains unpaid, they generate penalties over time and this makes it even more difficult for people to pay the arrears plus the penalties charged on all outstanding amounts,” he explained.
He added the situation has placed many families in a tricky situation that is extremely challenging to escape while at the same time makes it difficult for council to recover the owed monies.
“This situation was studied and reviewed to seek ways to assist our community to have access to water and other municipal services,” Uakumbua said.