Gibeon back on line but woes continue

NAMPOWER reconnected the electricity supply to Gibeon on Monday afternoon, but the village council’s woes are far from over.

Power was restored after the council paid the minimum amount demanded by NamPower. The village had been without electricity for about three weeks.In an earlier interview, Village Council Chairman Salomon Witbooi said NamPower was owed N$288 000.However, with spiralling debts and limited means of generating revenue, the council is now unable to pay its telephone bill.A Teleshop agent, Mona Cloete, yesterday confirmed that Telecom had cut the council’s telephone connection on Sunday.She said the village council owed Telecom N$1 300 – two months’ phone bills.Cloete said Telecom was lenient with defaulters if they made arrangements for paying back the debt, but the village council had not responded to reminders.The Namibian has learnt that the Gibeon Village Council also owes NamWater thousands of dollars in unpaid water bills.An attempt to get comment from Witbooi yesterday was unsuccessful.The village had been without electricity for about three weeks.In an earlier interview, Village Council Chairman Salomon Witbooi said NamPower was owed N$288 000.However, with spiralling debts and limited means of generating revenue, the council is now unable to pay its telephone bill.A Teleshop agent, Mona Cloete, yesterday confirmed that Telecom had cut the council’s telephone connection on Sunday.She said the village council owed Telecom N$1 300 – two months’ phone bills.Cloete said Telecom was lenient with defaulters if they made arrangements for paying back the debt, but the village council had not responded to reminders.The Namibian has learnt that the Gibeon Village Council also owes NamWater thousands of dollars in unpaid water bills.An attempt to get comment from Witbooi yesterday was unsuccessful.