Staff Reporter
THE City of Windhoek (CoW) has defended its decision to disconnect electricity supply to the various offices of five ministries in Windhoek because of the non-payment of N$47 million of accounts that are in arrears.
The City of Windhoek stated that the disconnection of services is a normal process that occurs daily in the capital.
The spokesperson of CoW, Haroldt Akwenye said that different offices and agencies of the Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security, the Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs, The Ministry of Agriculture, Water, and Land Reform, the Ministry of Mines and Energy, and the Ministry of Youth, Sport, and National Service were disconnected.
Akwenye said that the various government institutions have accounts in arrears of more than N$47 million and that only the electricity supply to these premises was disconnected.
“This is actually a normal and ongoing process. We have been doing it and we will continue to do so. Due to the health measures implemented because of the COVID-19 pandemic, we did not disconnect the water supply,” he said.
Akwenye indicated that the CoW will continue the process of disconnecting services to private entities and individual residents.
“I am urging institutions and private individuals to honour their agreement with the CoW and pay their rates and taxes that are in arrears,” he said.
According to Akwenye, the CoW also has creditors and accounts that need to be paid.
“If we are not paid then everyone else in Windhoek is affected, unfortunately,” Akwenye said.
Meanwhile, Job Amupanda, the Mayor of Windhoek, took to social media and said that some of the ministries moved with speed and were paying their outstanding accounts.
“They paid the millions owed to the rebirthed city. Our resolve remains. Leaders must set good examples. We must not promote late-coming in Windhoek. God Bless Windhoek, our City,” Amupanda said.
