Bethanie back on the grid

NAMPOWER on Wednesday restored electricity to Bethanie village in the South after its Village Council met the minimum requirement set by the bulk electricity supplier.

NamPower cut off power to the village last Friday over non-payment of an outstanding electricity bill. Village Secretary Willie Humphries yesterday confirmed the reconnection, saying the council had paid another N$30 000 towards its outstanding debt of N$294 000.He said the parties agreed that the council would repay the remaining debt in three instalments.According to Humphries, the first instalment will be paid in October.He said the council collected the money by stepping up pressure on residents, parastatals and Government Ministries to pay their outstanding municipal bills.The Namibian has learnt that some parastatals and Government Ministries still owe the council huge amounts for electricity.These include the Namibian Broadcasting Corporation (NBC), Roads Contractor Company (RCC) and the Ministries of Health, Agriculture and Education.The NBC owes the Council N$30 000, the RCC owes N$18 000, while the Government Ministries owe a total of N$35 000, The Namibian was informed.The NBC has an electrically powered transmission tower at the village.NamPower recently restored the power supply to Maltahoehe village after it also met the minimum requirement.The bulk electricity supplier pulled the plug on Maltahoehe, Gibeon and Kalkrand two weeks ago over non-payment of outstanding electricity bills.The Namibian has established that Gibeon still has not paid the minimum amount and remains without electricity.The Gibeon Village Council’s Chairman, Salomon Witbooi, said on Monday that it owes NamPower N$288 000.School pupils at Gibeon yesterday took to the streets in protest over the power blackout at the tiny village.They are demanding the immediate intervention of the Education Ministry, claiming that the blackout could have a negative impact on their preparations for next month’s Grade 10 examinations.In addition, the schoolchildren complained about a scarcity of water because the village depended on an electrical water pump.Village Secretary Willie Humphries yesterday confirmed the reconnection, saying the council had paid another N$30 000 towards its outstanding debt of N$294 000.He said the parties agreed that the council would repay the remaining debt in three instalments.According to Humphries, the first instalment will be paid in October.He said the council collected the money by stepping up pressure on residents, parastatals and Government Ministries to pay their outstanding municipal bills.The Namibian has learnt that some parastatals and Government Ministries still owe the council huge amounts for electricity.These include the Namibian Broadcasting Corporation (NBC), Roads Contractor Company (RCC) and the Ministries of Health, Agriculture and Education.The NBC owes the Council N$30 000, the RCC owes N$18 000, while the Government Ministries owe a total of N$35 000, The Namibian was informed.The NBC has an electrically powered transmission tower at the village.NamPower recently restored the power supply to Maltahoehe village after it also met the minimum requirement.The bulk electricity supplier pulled the plug on Maltahoehe, Gibeon and Kalkrand two weeks ago over non-payment of outstanding electricity bills.The Namibian has established that Gibeon still has not paid the minimum amount and remains without electricity.The Gibeon Village Council’s Chairman, Salomon Witbooi, said on Monday that it owes NamPower N$288 000.School pupils at Gibeon yesterday took to the streets in protest over the power blackout at the tiny village.They are demanding the immediate intervention of the Education Ministry, claiming that the blackout could have a negative impact on their preparations for next month’s Grade 10 examinations.In addition, the schoolchildren complained about a scarcity of water because the village depended on an electrical water pump.