Karibib averts power crisis

KARIBIB managed to avoid a power crisis at the weekend after power utility NamPower had threatened to cut supply for the N$1,6 million that the council owes.

The town council managed to raise N$50 000 at the last minute to pay NamPower on Friday – N$118 000 short of the amount it had promised to pay. Mayor Frans !Aoxamub has attributed the council’s inability to pay the NamPower bill to resident’s non-payment for services rendered.They owe the town N$2 million.”We are in a financial crisis and it’s going to take a long time to recover the money,” he said.Government institutions are also among the defaulters, including the Police, and the Ministries of Basic Education and Health and Social Services.!Aoxamub said council would get tough with debtors, saying that it would cut services if consumers did not settle their bills by July 7.Karibib has requested an extension from NamPower until July 8 to pay a total of N$370 000.NamPower said that it was trying to be sympathetic to Karibib’s problems.”Sometimes we have to take drastic action to ensure that customers are serious and will settle their arrears,” said NamPower’s Chief Technical Advisor Reiner Jagau.”It’s very unfortunate that businesses that do pay their bills regularly, will also be affected,” he added.A power cut would ultimately also affect water supplies and sewage to the town.!Aoxamub said that the new council needed time to investigate the root of all its problems and to put control mechanisms in place.At present, the council has a monthly income of only N$1 million while its monthly expenses, including salaries for about 30 employees, amounts to half of this figure.”It is really tough.We need to negotiate with the community,” !Aoxamub told The Namibian.The situation has also placed the town in a precarious position when it comes to paying its monthly instalment of N$160 000 for bulk water supply.It owes NamWater N$739 000.Neighbouring town Usakos finds itself in a similar predicament.Desperate to avoid a power cut, council officials there drove through the town on Thursday night, appealing to residents, through megaphones, to pay up by Friday.The Namibian understands that Usakos Town Clerk Sebastian !Gobs, Mayor Renathe Namases and Chairperson of the Management Committee Daniel Stramiss travelled to Windhoek on Friday to discuss their account with NamPower.!Gobs declined to comment on the extent of the situation and instead referred queries to Namases and Stramiss, neither of whom could be reached yesterday.Sources indicated that the town council managed to make a payment of N$100 000 and will have to pay another N$263 000 by Wednesday to avoid a blackout.Reports have it that the town owes NamPower in excess of N$4 million.Mayor Frans !Aoxamub has attributed the council’s inability to pay the NamPower bill to resident’s non-payment for services rendered.They owe the town N$2 million.”We are in a financial crisis and it’s going to take a long time to recover the money,” he said.Government institutions are also among the defaulters, including the Police, and the Ministries of Basic Education and Health and Social Services.!Aoxamub said council would get tough with debtors, saying that it would cut services if consumers did not settle their bills by July 7.Karibib has requested an extension from NamPower until July 8 to pay a total of N$370 000.NamPower said that it was trying to be sympathetic to Karibib’s problems.”Sometimes we have to take drastic action to ensure that customers are serious and will settle their arrears,” said NamPower’s Chief Technical Advisor Reiner Jagau.”It’s very unfortunate that businesses that do pay their bills regularly, will also be affected,” he added.A power cut would ultimately also affect water supplies and sewage to the town.!Aoxamub said that the new council needed time to investigate the root of all its problems and to put control mechanisms in place.At present, the council has a monthly income of only N$1 million while its monthly expenses, including salaries for about 30 employees, amounts to half of this figure.”It is really tough.We need to negotiate with the community,” !Aoxamub told The Namibian.The situation has also placed the town in a precarious position when it comes to paying its monthly instalment of N$160 000 for bulk water supply.It owes NamWater N$739 000.Neighbouring town Usakos finds itself in a similar predicament.Desperate to avoid a power cut, council officials there drove through the town on Thursday night, appealing to residents, through megaphones, to pay up by Friday.The Namibian understands that Usakos Town Clerk Sebastian !Gobs, Mayor Renathe Namases and Chairperson of the Management Committee Daniel Stramiss travelled to Windhoek on Friday to discuss their account with NamPower.!Gobs declined to comment on the extent of the situation and instead referred queries to Namases and Stramiss, neither of whom could be reached yesterday.Sources indicated that the town council managed to make a payment of N$100 000 and will have to pay another N$263 000 by Wednesday to avoid a blackout.Reports have it that the town owes NamPower in excess of N$4 million.