Ministries, councillors warned over unpaid bills

Minister of urban and rural development James Sankwasa has warned ministries and councillors to settle outstanding municipal debts or face disconnections and other sanctions.

Sankwasa was speaking yesterday during an induction workshop for regional council and local authority councillors, held under the theme ‘Accountability is the Bedrock for Effective Governance to Achieve Effective Service Delivery in Regional and Local Authority Councils’.

“I am sending a clear message to all institutions of the government that have outstanding municipal accounts to settle such accounts now and, or during the 2026/27 book-year to avoid embarrassing disconnections that should be effected on all outstanding accounts,” he said.

As of March 2025, local authorities and councils owed the Namibia Water Corporartion a staggering N$2.4 billion, with municipalities alone accounting for N$150 million of this in early 2025, according to reports.

The City of Windhoek previously indicated that residents, businesses, and government ministries combined owed the municipality N$1.2 billion, with some debts transferred to private collectors.

Sankwasa also took a swipe at some newly elected councillors who owe their local authorities, saying such debts will be deducted from their allowances until they are fully settled.

“If we ran to be councillors to avoid paying for municipal services or thought that such will help you not pay the outstanding water and service bills, then it is very unfortunate,” he said.

He ordered chief executives to act without fail in ensuring that all outstanding bills are fully settled.

Sankwasa urged councillors to lead by example, stating that local authorities need the money for development projects and improved service delivery to residents of the towns or villages.
“It cannot be business as usual.

From now on, the ministry will hold regional and local authorities to the letter and spirit of various legislation imposing obligations on such entities to provide housing (plots), access to clean water and ablution facilities and all other services to people residing in their areas of jurisdiction,” he said.

Sankwasa added that the ministry will explore various institutional and legal measures to strengthen its capacity to monitor the performance of local authorities and other agencies and hold them accountable for delivering not only efficient and effective services, but excellent service to the public.

Former Walvis Bay municipality councillor Ryan Gordon says the minister is doing a great job as such debts hinder development.

“I support him, and even more so him asking councillors to settle their debts because they must lead by example and pay their bills.

It makes no sense to be a councillor demanding residents to pay if you are not paying your water bills,” Gordon says.

Political analyst Sakaria Johannes says this a good move by the minister but he should be considerate of the new leaders.

“They might pay the price of previous administrations who are not responsible for that.

I think it will be a good idea if he is going to trace and hold all leaders accountable. However, he is driven by accountability, which is a good thing,” he says.

In 2021, the City of Windhoek disconnected the electricity of more than eight government ministries and agencies, including the Ministry of Safety and Security, the Ministry of Defence, the Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of Mines and Energy, and the Ministry of Lands and Resettlement, after they owed the municipality a total of N$82 million.

The ministry of land’s water supply was also cut off due to a N$4-million debt to the city.

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