Sankwasa ponders on southern local councils’ debts
Namibian Urban and Rural Development Minister James Sankwasa has criticized local authorities in the //Kharas and Hardap regions for failing to pay bulk electricity debts to NamPower. Despite collecting revenue from prepaid electricity sales, these councils have accumulated massive arrears, prompting threats of government intervention.
Why it matters
The situation highlights critical issues in municipal financial management and the risk of service disruptions for citizens due to administrative failure.
KEETMANSHOOP – Urban and Rural Development Minister, James Sankwasa, expressed his utmost disappointment towards local authorities in the //Kharas and Hardap regions who, despite selling prepaid electricity, still have astronomical outstanding debts with bulk electricity distributor NamPower.
He rebuked the institutions during a stakeholder meeting last weekend, discussing the speedy establishment and operationalisation of Southern Regional Electricity Distributor (Sored).
Demanding explanations from administrators for the current state of affairs at municipalities, town councils, villages and settlements, he probed: “If electricity supply is cut off, how will you explain to those who put you into power and entrusted you with public funds, as government will not be in a position to bail you out?’’
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