Mariental approves N$172m for land and lights

THE Mariental municipality has approved a N$172.6-million budget focused on land servicing, infrastructure upgrades and electricity tariff adjustments for the 2025/26 financial year.

Mariental chief executive Paul Nghiwilepo, who also revealed that the municipality reported a surplus of over N$253 000, confirmed this yesterday.

“The council approved the budget on 27 June. It approved capital projects to the tune of over N$35 million, which includes land and road construction,” he said.

Nghiwilepo said N$8 million has been put aside for land servicing, and N$2.5 million for upgrading gravel roads to interlock roads.

He said Mariental is actively working on land servicing to address its growing population and housing needs.

“The municipality, with the support of various stakeholders, including the government and private developers, is expanding its serviced land, including plans for affordable housing,” he said.

Financial constraints and the need to move some residents, he said, hinder land clearing and servicing efforts.

The municipality has ambitious plans to service around 3 000 plots within the next five years, and also aims to extend the town’s boundaries.

Nghiwilepo said the council has approved a proposed electricity tariff of 1.2% adding to NamPower’s approved tariffs of 3.8% by the Electricity Control Board (ECB).

This means if approved by the ECB, Marienal residents can expect a 5% hike in electricity tariffs.

Other interest rates that were approved include 3% on refuse bins for residents, and 10% for businesses.

The Ministry of Industries, Mines and Energy last month announced that the remainder of the 8% NamPower received from the ECB, which was later reduced to 3.8%, will be subsidised by the ministry to help struggling households.

Hardap Affirmative Repositioning chairperson David Kharuchab yesterday raised concerns over the proposed electricity tariff hike.

“We already have high unemployment in the region, and with this announcement struggling households will find it hard to keep their lights on as affordability becomes a question.

“This could also lead to possible theft of illegal electricity, and farmers who depend on electricity could face a decline in livestock production among others,” he said.

Mariental Rural constituency councillor Deensia Swartbooi proposed that the electrification of rural areas must be addressed by regional constituency offices as the current process is not viable due to frequent delays.

Although the cost of rural electrification, once completed, is covered by the regional constituency, she says this should be moved from the governor to the regional constituency office.

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