Former MP calls for Nored to be stripped of some regions

Namibia Economic Freedom Fighters (NEFF) leader Epafras Mukwiilongo has called for the Northern Regional Electricity Distributor (Nored) to be stripped of parts of its vast jurisdiction, arguing that the utility has failed northern communities for more than two decades.

The company supplies electricity to eight regions: Kunene, Omusati, Oshana, Ohangwena, Kavango West, Kavango East and Zambezi.

Thousands of residents, businesses and schools across northern Namibia have experienced prolonged blackouts, including outages last weekend amid a strike action by Nored staff.

Mukwiilongo said the ongoing power disruptions highlight Nored’s chronic failures and called on the government to radically restructure the utility, reducing its service area to at most two regions.

“At our village at Elim, electricity went off on Saturday morning and only returned on Monday morning. It is totally unacceptable,” he said.

“Small rain or wind can cause a whole region to be without power. They have failed us for more than 20 years now.”

He argued that by slimming down the company's footprint, Nored would be able to sustain uninterrupted power supply.

The outspoken former member of parliament questioned why Nored consistently underperforms compared to other regional electricity distributors and local utilities, arguing that its sprawling operational area has become unmanageable.

Strike exposes deeper fault lines

The latest wave of outages intensified last Thursday when Nored employees affiliated with the Mineworkers Union of Namibia (MUN) commenced a strike across all offices. The company warned of “reduced staff availability”, severely hampering its ability to respond to faults, process payments and manage the pre-paid vending system.

For more than 24 hours, residents across the northern regions were unable to purchase electricity tokens, leaving households without power to cook or light their homes.

However, Mukwiilongo dismissed the strike as a convenient explanation for what he describes as long-standing systemic failure.

He argued that the grid’s vulnerability predates the current labour dispute, saying the network’s inability to withstand minor weather disturbances points to chronic maintenance neglect rather than temporary staffing shortages.

Economic fallout

Mukwiilongo highlighted the heavy toll on local businesses as power outages shut down crucial systems. Butcheries have reportedly lost thousands of dollars in spoiled meat, while bakeries have struggled to meet supply commitments, including bread deliveries to school hostels.

"This failure affects all sectors, including schools, especially those with hostels,” he said.

Private mortuaries have also reportedly struggled to keep facilities functional during blackouts, underscoring the ripple effect into sensitive areas of community life.

Over the weekend, Nored issued public notices attributing delayed restorations to the industrial action. On Monday, the utility said its pre-paid vending system had been restored via banking applications and vendors, although customers in rural areas continue to report difficulties.

Strike ends

The industrial strike ended on Monday after labour relations minister Fillemon Wise Immanuel facilitated urgent talks between the utility's management and the union.

Subsequently, the work stoppage was called off just after midnight as disruptions to essential services intensified.

The agreement grants workers a 14th cheque payable in lieu of a 2024/25 increase, a 4% increase from July 2025, and 4.3% from July 2026. Workers had initially demanded a 6% increase, with the company offering 3% at the time.