Power cut at education offices
22 August 2019 | Energy
The Ohangwena education directorate's offices at Eenhana have been left without electricity, after Nored cut the power due to non-payment on Tuesday.
According to sources, the directorate failed to pay N$1.8 million for its power consumption last month.
Ohangwena education director Isak Hamatwi confirmed the power cut yesterday.
“It is true the power is cut off, but we just got N$5 million from head office; we are busy processing the payment,” Hamatwi said.
With the July electricity consumption at N$1.8 million and the office rent at N$400 000 per month, Namibian Sun could not establish the exact amount government is spending on the premises without having knowledge of the water costs.
Nored spokesperson Simon Lukas also confirmed the power had been cut because of non-payment.
“However, we are unable to dwell much on the amounts owed and the state of reconnection, due to the confidentiality that we have with our customers,” Lukas said.
Earlier this month, the City of Windhoek cut the water and electricity supply to some schools in the capital due to outstanding water bills.
The Ohangwena education directorate is reportedly spending millions a year to rent office space at Eenhana, after relocating its headquarters from Ondangwa to the town. The Ohangwena regional council is, however, unhappy with the situation that sees the education directorate spending N$395 000 a month on renting a total office space of 3 176.26 square metres, which consists of 60 offices, while the construction of its N$60 million office complex has stalled with only 20% of the work completed.
“It should be noted that it was not that the contractor abandoned the site, but the contract was terminated by the ministry of works and transport due to poor workmanship.
“Hence, as to what the plans are with regard to the construction, the works ministry will be in a better position to respond to that. The obvious is that the tendering process will be restarted,” Hamatwi said recently.
“The education ministry, the Ohangwena directorate in particular, is just a user that is merely waiting for the keys of the office complex to be handed over to them to move in. The termination of the contract means that the directorate's stay at the current rented office complex has been prolonged further, for an indefinite period.”
ILENI NANDJATO
According to sources, the directorate failed to pay N$1.8 million for its power consumption last month.
Ohangwena education director Isak Hamatwi confirmed the power cut yesterday.
“It is true the power is cut off, but we just got N$5 million from head office; we are busy processing the payment,” Hamatwi said.
With the July electricity consumption at N$1.8 million and the office rent at N$400 000 per month, Namibian Sun could not establish the exact amount government is spending on the premises without having knowledge of the water costs.
Nored spokesperson Simon Lukas also confirmed the power had been cut because of non-payment.
“However, we are unable to dwell much on the amounts owed and the state of reconnection, due to the confidentiality that we have with our customers,” Lukas said.
Earlier this month, the City of Windhoek cut the water and electricity supply to some schools in the capital due to outstanding water bills.
The Ohangwena education directorate is reportedly spending millions a year to rent office space at Eenhana, after relocating its headquarters from Ondangwa to the town. The Ohangwena regional council is, however, unhappy with the situation that sees the education directorate spending N$395 000 a month on renting a total office space of 3 176.26 square metres, which consists of 60 offices, while the construction of its N$60 million office complex has stalled with only 20% of the work completed.
“It should be noted that it was not that the contractor abandoned the site, but the contract was terminated by the ministry of works and transport due to poor workmanship.
“Hence, as to what the plans are with regard to the construction, the works ministry will be in a better position to respond to that. The obvious is that the tendering process will be restarted,” Hamatwi said recently.
“The education ministry, the Ohangwena directorate in particular, is just a user that is merely waiting for the keys of the office complex to be handed over to them to move in. The termination of the contract means that the directorate's stay at the current rented office complex has been prolonged further, for an indefinite period.”
ILENI NANDJATO
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