Otjozondjupa’s N$31.7m debt blamed for Kalkfeld water cuts

The Otjozondjupa Regional Council owes NamWater N$31.7 million, a debt officials say is contributing to recurring water interruptions in Kalkfeld and affecting residents regardless of whether they have paid their own water bills.

NamWater spokesperson Lot Ndamanomhata told Namibian Sun last week that the regional council owes N$31 686 551.28 on accounts that have been in arrears for more than 90 days.

“The regional council is the one that has the responsibility to maintain that account,” Ndamanomhata said, adding that the outstanding balance stems from non-payment.

Speaking to Namibian Sun last week, Otjozondjupa acting chief regional officer Shikongo Alweendo said water interruptions affect all residents connected to the system once NamWater disconnects the council's main account, regardless of whether individual households have paid their municipal bills.

“If NamWater disconnects the supply, even your account is not in arrears, you will be affected because the main supply is disconnected,” he explained.

Alweendo said the council's ability to pay NamWater depends on revenue collected from residents, arguing that widespread non-payment leaves local authorities without sufficient funds to settle bulk water accounts.

“If residents are not paying, council does not have money because you cannot get money from central government for you to pay for the customer’s supply of water. Customers must pay so that you can be able to pay the bulk supplier,” he said.

He acknowledged that the debt crisis is not new and noted that discussions around water debt in Otjozondjupa had previously been raised in Parliament. He also called for engagement between NamWater and the agriculture ministry to find solutions for residents who struggle to afford water services.

The issue resurfaced last week when residents gathered in Kalkfeld to demand answers over water interruptions and a range of other community concerns.

Recurring water problems

Community representative Mbango Nandavo told Namibian Sun that residents are frustrated by recurring water-related problems and what they describe as unclear billing practices.

“People pay amounts but they do not know what they are paying for. It does not show the rates on the water bill. It is simply figures that have been added up,” he said.

Nandavo said residents have also questioned why water supplies have been interrupted despite claims that many households are paying for the service.

Beyond water, he said the community is concerned about employment opportunities linked to development projects in the area, including railway construction and mining operations.

According to Nandavo, residents believe local people are not benefiting sufficiently from available jobs and have submitted multiple petitions to authorities raising concerns over employment and service delivery.

Responding to the allegations, WCE Consulting Engineers resident engineer Robert Hoeseb said the protest appeared to have been triggered by frustrations surrounding the water disconnections, which later expanded to include concerns about employment.

Hoeseb said preliminary information available to project representatives suggests a significant number of residents have already been employed on the railway project, but promised that employment records would be reviewed and shared with community representatives.

“We take the issue very seriously,” he said, adding that project officials planned to provide feedback supported by employment figures and engage with community leaders, government representatives and other stakeholders.

Residents have maintained that water access, job opportunities and broader service delivery challenges remain at the centre of their grievances.

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