Staff Reporter
THE Namibian Water Corporation (NamWater) has warned that Namibians in northern communal areas may be subject to water interruptions after workers from the Northern Electricity Distributor (NORED) Ltd embarked on a strike as from 26 February 2026.
“As electricity supply may be affected, please note that water supply systems rely heavily on electricity for pumping and treatment. This may result in intermittent water interruptions or low pressure in affected areas. We sincerely apologise for any inconvenience that may arise as a result of this situation,” NamWater stated in a public notice.
VIDEO: Community member looking for the acting CEO at the NORED head office in Ondangwa, complaining about the power outage as a result of the ongoing industrial action. Video: Contributed
NORED, in a notice as well, stated that as a result of the reduced staff availability, it may not respond in a timely manner to power failures, maintenance and operational issues, vending services, and/or may delay the processing of payments and other customer service requests.
“We have activated our contingency plans to minimise the disruption of services and ensure that essential services are maintained and remain operational during this period. However, customers should prepare for potential delays in maintenance and longer repair times for outages,” NORED warned.
The industrial strike by NORED employees, which was initiated due to a salary increment dispute by workers, has brought about a bone of contention between the Mine Workers Union, which represents the workers, and NORED.
The electricity distributor has claimed that employees are designated essential service workers and are prohibited from going on strike, warning that the strike, which commenced on 26 February, is illegal and may lead to summary dismissal and result in a “no work, no pay” policy.
On the other hand, the union has demanded the removal of the NORED board of directors, adding that the above sentiments are tantamount to intimidation and a violation of the processes that have been followed, including the issuance of statutory notice.
“Such conduct reflects a troubling pattern of governance failure. The Board’s endorsement of aggressive legal threats against its own workforce demonstrates a lack of leadership maturity, poor strategic judgment, and a complete disregard for the principles of good faith bargaining as envisaged under the Labour Act. Threatening workers with dismissal and financial ruin for exercising constitutionally protected labour rights is not only irresponsible — it is reckless,” the Mine Workers noted in a retaliatory letter.
