Low turnout forces Nored to reschedule Rundu tariff hearing
Vital info session aborted
Authorities are now considering splitting the session, one in Kavango East and another in Kavango West, to accommodate participants better.
A stakeholder meeting on the proposed 2025/26 electricity tariff increase was called off in Rundu last Thursday due to low attendance, with fewer than 15 people, mostly staff from the electricity distributor, present.
The session formed part of a regional series of public consultations organised by the Northern Regional Electricity Distributor (Nored) in collaboration with the Electricity Control Board (ECB).
The series began in Outapi on 10 June, continued in Ongwediva the next day, reached Rundu on 12 June, and concluded in Katima Mulilo on 13 June. However, Rundu’s session was postponed and is now set to resume Thursday.
Joseph Katura, a Nkurenkuru local authority official, criticised the poor attendance and questioned whether the public had been properly informed.
“It’s really a concern,” Katura told the organisers. “The whole Kavango East and Kavango West regions – where were their representatives? You can’t expect people from far places like Nkurenkuru to travel to Rundu without proper arrangements. We need electricity. It’s a crucial issue, and the turnout doesn’t reflect that.”
He called on Nored and the ECB to reflect on what went wrong – be it poor communication, unsuitable timing or lack of awareness.
He noted that considering the turnout, continuing the meeting under such circumstances would have been “unfair and not good leadership”.
Katura argued that such engagements must be accessible to all electricity consumers, including residents and business owners whose operations depend heavily on power.
Feedback vital
Nored acting CEO Toivo Shovaleka, speaking to Namibian Sun after the aborted meeting, acknowledged the concerns and said efforts were made to notify stakeholders.
“We extended invitations to regional and town councils and businesses through the NCCI and also used local radio. Our local office even hand-delivered notices over a week ago,” he said.
However, he admitted that timing might have played a role in the low turnout.
“Last year, they said 10:00 was too early, so we pushed it to 14:00 for this winter season. Still, it didn’t yield results. The ECB is now considering splitting the session – one in Kavango East and another in Kavango West – to accommodate participants better,” he added.
Shovaleka said the purpose of the meetings is to collect a representative view from consumers across the regions, noting that the tariff application directly affects everyone and their feedback is vital.
The session formed part of a regional series of public consultations organised by the Northern Regional Electricity Distributor (Nored) in collaboration with the Electricity Control Board (ECB).
The series began in Outapi on 10 June, continued in Ongwediva the next day, reached Rundu on 12 June, and concluded in Katima Mulilo on 13 June. However, Rundu’s session was postponed and is now set to resume Thursday.
Joseph Katura, a Nkurenkuru local authority official, criticised the poor attendance and questioned whether the public had been properly informed.
“It’s really a concern,” Katura told the organisers. “The whole Kavango East and Kavango West regions – where were their representatives? You can’t expect people from far places like Nkurenkuru to travel to Rundu without proper arrangements. We need electricity. It’s a crucial issue, and the turnout doesn’t reflect that.”
He called on Nored and the ECB to reflect on what went wrong – be it poor communication, unsuitable timing or lack of awareness.
He noted that considering the turnout, continuing the meeting under such circumstances would have been “unfair and not good leadership”.
Katura argued that such engagements must be accessible to all electricity consumers, including residents and business owners whose operations depend heavily on power.
Feedback vital
Nored acting CEO Toivo Shovaleka, speaking to Namibian Sun after the aborted meeting, acknowledged the concerns and said efforts were made to notify stakeholders.
“We extended invitations to regional and town councils and businesses through the NCCI and also used local radio. Our local office even hand-delivered notices over a week ago,” he said.
However, he admitted that timing might have played a role in the low turnout.
“Last year, they said 10:00 was too early, so we pushed it to 14:00 for this winter season. Still, it didn’t yield results. The ECB is now considering splitting the session – one in Kavango East and another in Kavango West – to accommodate participants better,” he added.
Shovaleka said the purpose of the meetings is to collect a representative view from consumers across the regions, noting that the tariff application directly affects everyone and their feedback is vital.
Comments
Namibian Sun
No comments have been left on this article