‘Exorbitant’ rates raise hackles at Maltahöhe

SKYROCKETING municipal tariffs at Maltahöhe have residents up in arms and refusing to pay.

According to Nicolaas van den Heever, Chairman of the Maltahöhe Ratepayers’ Association, some Village Council rates have increased by as much as 1 835 per cent in the 2008-09 financial year. Van den Heever yesterday said these ‘absurd tariff hikes’ were forced on mainly pensioners and jobless people. ‘Such huge tariff hikes will certainly impact on residents’ finances and lifestyle,’ he said. In protest at the excessive rate hikes, residents use the 2007-08 rate when paying for Village Council services.He said these tariff hikes were implemented late last year despite a clear directive from the Ministry of Local Government to only raise tariffs in line with the costs of its utility providers or the inflation rate. According to ratepayers, in 2008-09 basic water charges have gone up by 56,6 per cent while the basic charge for electricity units has increased by 500 per cent. Council also increased rate charges by 1 835 per cent, sewerage removal charges by 52 per cent, domestic refuse removal charges by 175 per cent, pre-paid electricity unit charges by 25 per cent and water unit charges by 36 per cent. House rental charge increases ranged from 435 to 800 per cent. Van den Heever added that residents have petitioned Local Government Permanent Secretary Erastus Negonga to reverse the tariff hikes, but no action has been taken to date. ‘We have written several petition letters, but it seems our cries have fallen on deaf ears,’ he said. ‘I’ve been informed that the Ministry is unable to respond to our grievances because the Village Council’s Secretary, after requesting to explain the exorbitant tariff hikes, has failed to revert back to the Ministry until now,’ Van den Heever added.In response to residents’ complaints, Maltahöhe Village Council Vice Chairman Hans Joseph yesterday insisted that Council had not endorsed the 2008-09 tariff hikes. ‘Council only saw the tariff hikes after they were gazetted,’ said Joseph. He claimed the Village Council Secretary, Tirani Kandukira, had not consulted or sought approval from the Council before sending the tariff hikes to the Ministry of Local Government for approval. ‘From the onset Council did not rubberstamp these tariff increases, therefore it has resolved not to comment on it,’ Joseph said. He added that residents had not raised the issue with the Village Council, but went straight to the Local Government Ministry.Tirani Kandukira refused to comment when approached. He said he was on leave and would only comment once he was back at the office next Monday. luqman@namibian.com.na