Third protest planned at Katima

Angry Katima Mulilo residents plan to take to the streets for the third time since April to demand that residents are refunded for expensive pre-paid water meter installations and that all sitting councillors be removed with immediate effect, among several other issues.Meanwhile, Zambezi governor Lawrence Sampofu is continuing his inquiry into the issues raised by the protesters during their demonstrations in April and May this year.Sampofu this week directed the town council to suspend all installations of new pre-paid water systems until further notice, and is demanding proof that councillors properly consulted with residents before the prepaid system was introduced. He told Namibian Sun yesterday that his decision was made based on the widespread complaints around the installation of the systems, not only during the protests but also during several community meetings he had spearheaded recently. Sampofu added that although the town council had told him that proper consultations were held, he had now demanded proof.“The town council say they did inform residents. We have now asked for the minutes of those meetings. At the two community hall meetings, the residents denied they were consulted.”Sampofu further underlined that he had directed a number of queries to the town council and was waiting for a response, particularly on what the way forward is in regard to water supply systems and whether there would be “compensation” for residents who had already paid the more than N$3 000 costs of installations of the new water meters. One of the main protest organisers, Kubwima Poniso, told Namibian Sun yesterday that while the community was “happy with the governor's response, it came a little bit too late.”He said thousands of water meters had already been installed despite long-standing complaints against the system. He said while the governor's response to the protest points was appreciated, residents would nevertheless stage another demonstration in about two weeks' time to demand that all councillors step down, not only Swapo councillors.“We have lost our confidence in them,” he said. Further, he said residents felt that the councillors had violated their oath of office in terms of the Local Authority Act. “We are all equal before the law,” Poniso said.Another issue that will be brought to the fore during the next demonstration is to demand a full audit of council finances for the most recent years, and to highlight the money allegedly wasted by the council. Sampofu said yesterday that residents had a right to demonstrate but advised that before holding demonstrations, they should consult with their councillors first.He further noted that the councillors were elected by the residents and “it is important to consult, communicate and coordinate” between the two parties. According to previous reports, residents were required to pay N$2 500 for a new prepaid water meter, plus N$800 for a card.In contrast, the old system cost N$450 for a new connection.JANA-MARI SMITH

Third protest planned at Katima

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Namibian Sun 2025-07-16

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Third protest planned at Katima

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Namibian Sun 2025-07-16

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