Khorixas town council owed over N$50m
Government ministries with offices in Khorixas owe the town council more than N$50 million and some of the debt is more than three years old.
Khorixas CEO, Andreas /Howoseb in an interview with Nampa, said his office is concerned because the local authority continues to provide the services and yet the ministries, agencies, and some business owners and households, fail to pay for them.
He singled out the health and sports ministries, as well as a local lodge, saying their total debts amount to millions of dollars.
/Howoseb said N$29 million is owed to the town council for water consumption, while more than N$21 million is owed in rates and taxes.
“A few households also owe us money, but some of them have made arrangements with us on how they intend to pay their debts. We appreciate that,” he said.
The CEO called on the ministries and residents to pay off their debts or make arrangements with his office for payment by signing 'soft contracts' on how they intend to clear their debt dating back to 2015.
He also urged residents to refrain from stealing manhole covers, saying they do so to sell the covers to scrapyards.
/Howoseb also asked that residents stop dumping unwanted objects in the drains.
“We experience constant overflowing of drainage systems and we are often shocked to find old blankets, mops and clothes in the drains, nearly on a weekly basis,” he said.
The town's mayor Elizabeth Geises added that the problem is exacerbated by the fact that the sewerage system is old.
“I am disturbed by the continuous bursting of pipes and overflowing of drains. It is unhygienic for all of us,” she said.
Khorixas has a population of roughly13 000 people.
NAMPA
Khorixas CEO, Andreas /Howoseb in an interview with Nampa, said his office is concerned because the local authority continues to provide the services and yet the ministries, agencies, and some business owners and households, fail to pay for them.
He singled out the health and sports ministries, as well as a local lodge, saying their total debts amount to millions of dollars.
/Howoseb said N$29 million is owed to the town council for water consumption, while more than N$21 million is owed in rates and taxes.
“A few households also owe us money, but some of them have made arrangements with us on how they intend to pay their debts. We appreciate that,” he said.
The CEO called on the ministries and residents to pay off their debts or make arrangements with his office for payment by signing 'soft contracts' on how they intend to clear their debt dating back to 2015.
He also urged residents to refrain from stealing manhole covers, saying they do so to sell the covers to scrapyards.
/Howoseb also asked that residents stop dumping unwanted objects in the drains.
“We experience constant overflowing of drainage systems and we are often shocked to find old blankets, mops and clothes in the drains, nearly on a weekly basis,” he said.
The town's mayor Elizabeth Geises added that the problem is exacerbated by the fact that the sewerage system is old.
“I am disturbed by the continuous bursting of pipes and overflowing of drains. It is unhygienic for all of us,” she said.
Khorixas has a population of roughly13 000 people.
NAMPA
Comments
Namibian Sun
No comments have been left on this article