Kalkfeld pensioners seek relief from crippling debts

Kalkfeld pensioners have called for urgent relief from municipal debts, with some owing between N$20 000 and N$36 000, an insurmountable sum in a town where widespread poverty leaves little money even for basic needs.

The concerns were raised by members of the Khaibasen elderly group at a meeting in Kalkfeld last Wednesday. Chairperson Walter Khoaob said residents had tried to engage the settlement office over their outstanding accounts, without success.

Among those affected are Libertine Popas (76), who owes more than N$21 000, and Fransina Hoeses (61), who owes N$35 000.

Popas said many elderly residents had little or no income and could not afford to travel to the settlement office to resolve their accounts.

She said the group had asked officials to visit the settlement to assist elderly residents, but residents said the request was ignored.

Popas said a N$400 municipal charge is difficult for residents to afford amid limited employment opportunities in Kalkfeld.

Khoaob said the group was concerned that elderly residents had been left to deal with debts they could not afford to settle.

The concerns come amid a push by urban and rural development minister James Sankwasa for municipal debt write-offs for pensioners and persons with disabilities.

Council acknowledges plight

Otjiwarongo constituency councillor Paulus Nekundi said authorities are aware of the difficulties facing Kalkfeld's pensioners and residents.

Nekundi told Namibian Sun last week that the settlement office had been instructed to work with the settlement development committee to identify elderly residents unable to settle their debts.

He said their cases could then be forwarded to the council for consideration and possibly recommended to the minister for the debts to be written off.

“We know it's also a very challenging one, because of the income there, it's not really easy,” Nekundi said.

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