APP takes aim at NamWater, REDs
Kenya Kambowe
RUNDU
The All People's Party (APP) says NamWater and the country's various regional energy distributors (REDs) are making a fortune off local authorities, yet a large number of people are still left without access to water and electricity.
The party further argued that local and regional authorities should be providing these services directly and not through middlemen.
Residents are made to pay high water tariffs while local and regional authorities, who are shareholders in the various utilities, receive peanuts from surcharges, the APP said.
“The REDs are making a fortune from the local authorities in which they operate, but people are still without electricity in those areas. They are also charging a lot for their services, which people can't afford,” APP secretary-general Vincent Kanyetu said at a media conference in Rundu yesterday.
No water for months
“There are suburbs in Rundu that do not have water since September last year and this is happening while there is a river flowing metres away from the town.
“We don't need NamWater in local authorities, because that can be the responsibility of the local authority.
“Water will be cheaper if provided by [the] council because there will be no middlemen involved,” Kanyetu said.
Kanyetu, however, said a number of local authorities do not have the capacity and manpower to carry out their mandates.
He added that the APP is calling for the restructuring of local authorities.
“We need to restructure local authorities, such as Rundu, starting from the cleaner to the various departments. Once NamWater and the REDs are removed, we shall take over their resources and strengthen the local authorities,” Kanyetu said.
The APP said NamWater and the REDs should operate in areas outside local authorities.
Readiness for elections
Meanwhile, Kanyetu indicated that the APP is ready to take part in the upcoming regional and local authority elections next month.
He said the party will contest in 16 of the country's 121 constituencies, with the majority being in the Kavango East Region.
Currently, the APP has four councillors in local authorities across the country.
RUNDU
The All People's Party (APP) says NamWater and the country's various regional energy distributors (REDs) are making a fortune off local authorities, yet a large number of people are still left without access to water and electricity.
The party further argued that local and regional authorities should be providing these services directly and not through middlemen.
Residents are made to pay high water tariffs while local and regional authorities, who are shareholders in the various utilities, receive peanuts from surcharges, the APP said.
“The REDs are making a fortune from the local authorities in which they operate, but people are still without electricity in those areas. They are also charging a lot for their services, which people can't afford,” APP secretary-general Vincent Kanyetu said at a media conference in Rundu yesterday.
No water for months
“There are suburbs in Rundu that do not have water since September last year and this is happening while there is a river flowing metres away from the town.
“We don't need NamWater in local authorities, because that can be the responsibility of the local authority.
“Water will be cheaper if provided by [the] council because there will be no middlemen involved,” Kanyetu said.
Kanyetu, however, said a number of local authorities do not have the capacity and manpower to carry out their mandates.
He added that the APP is calling for the restructuring of local authorities.
“We need to restructure local authorities, such as Rundu, starting from the cleaner to the various departments. Once NamWater and the REDs are removed, we shall take over their resources and strengthen the local authorities,” Kanyetu said.
The APP said NamWater and the REDs should operate in areas outside local authorities.
Readiness for elections
Meanwhile, Kanyetu indicated that the APP is ready to take part in the upcoming regional and local authority elections next month.
He said the party will contest in 16 of the country's 121 constituencies, with the majority being in the Kavango East Region.
Currently, the APP has four councillors in local authorities across the country.
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