UPM wants Rehoboth by-elections
The United People's Movement (UPM) has called for by-elections to take place at Rehoboth, following the en masse suspension of the town's councillors last year.
The opposition party has also questioned the recent revelations about the massive debt the council owes NamWater and NamPower.
In March last year, urban and rural development minister Peya Mushelenga suspended the entire Rehoboth town council and appointed Natalia /Goagoses to run its affairs.
In a statement issued this week, the UPM said the council is still plagued by corruption and mismanagement and called on Mushelenga to deal with the culprits.
The party also questioned the council's staggering NamWater and NamPower debt, saying it makes no sense because the majority of the town's people use prepaid services.
According to the UPM parliamentarian Jan van Wyk, pensioners are flocking to the council to pay their accounts every month.
“The skyrocketing bills are a direct result of mismanagement and corruption by the Rehoboth town council. The information provided at a community meeting on 8 April is in big contrast to the information provided to the community at a meeting during October 2018.
“At this meeting /Goagoses bragged about how she had turned around issues at Rehoboth and said Rehoboth now has the money to meet its obligations,” Van Wyk said.
According to him, the town council has seemingly fallen back into a state of incompetence and corruption.
Van Wyk added that government was not taking action because the culprits are either Swapo councillors, members or loyalists.
Last week /Goagoses told the community that the town is drowning in debt of about N$120 million, owed to NamPower and NamWater, while residents owe the council N$150 million for water, rates and taxes.
The council owes NamWater N$20 million, while NamPower is owed a whopping N$99.6 million, as the town battles to keep its lights on.
JEMIMA BEUKES
The opposition party has also questioned the recent revelations about the massive debt the council owes NamWater and NamPower.
In March last year, urban and rural development minister Peya Mushelenga suspended the entire Rehoboth town council and appointed Natalia /Goagoses to run its affairs.
In a statement issued this week, the UPM said the council is still plagued by corruption and mismanagement and called on Mushelenga to deal with the culprits.
The party also questioned the council's staggering NamWater and NamPower debt, saying it makes no sense because the majority of the town's people use prepaid services.
According to the UPM parliamentarian Jan van Wyk, pensioners are flocking to the council to pay their accounts every month.
“The skyrocketing bills are a direct result of mismanagement and corruption by the Rehoboth town council. The information provided at a community meeting on 8 April is in big contrast to the information provided to the community at a meeting during October 2018.
“At this meeting /Goagoses bragged about how she had turned around issues at Rehoboth and said Rehoboth now has the money to meet its obligations,” Van Wyk said.
According to him, the town council has seemingly fallen back into a state of incompetence and corruption.
Van Wyk added that government was not taking action because the culprits are either Swapo councillors, members or loyalists.
Last week /Goagoses told the community that the town is drowning in debt of about N$120 million, owed to NamPower and NamWater, while residents owe the council N$150 million for water, rates and taxes.
The council owes NamWater N$20 million, while NamPower is owed a whopping N$99.6 million, as the town battles to keep its lights on.
JEMIMA BEUKES
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