PM warns local authorities against relying on tariffs
Namibian Prime Minister Elijah Ngurare has urged local authorities to move away from reliance on municipal tariffs and government transfers. He suggests that councils should instead focus on commercializing assets and fostering private sector partnerships to drive sustainable development.
Why it matters
This highlights a shift in governance strategy for developing regions, emphasizing economic self-sufficiency and private-public collaboration over traditional state-funded models.
Prime minister Elijah Ngurare has warned local authorities against relying on municipal tariffs and government transfers to finance development.
He urges them to find innovative ways to generate revenue.
In a speech delivered on his behalf by the office’s executive director Petrus Sindumba at the launch of the Rundu Town Council Commercial Services (RTCCS) company, Ngurare said local authorities are under growing pressure to provide housing, serviced land, roads, water, sanitation and waste management while financial resources remain limited.
“The solution cannot always be to increase municipal tariffs or depend increasingly on transfers from the central government,” he says.
He says councils should instead broaden their revenue bases, make better use of municipal assets, attract investment and pursue viable commercial opportunities.
Ngurare says Rundu has opportunities in property development, tourism, agriculture, agro-processing, logistics, renewable energy and waste management, which could generate revenue, attract investment and create jobs.
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