Okakarara cuts off services to debtors

OKAKARARA could find itself back to square one this week as the municipality takes action against residents for non-payment for services rendered.

Last month, the town’s electricity and water supply was cut because of its failure to pay bulk utility suppliers. Now the Town Council has started to cut off supplies as it seeks to retrieve the more than N$6,1 million owed by residents.Large numbers of residents are set to be affected.The head of a Government delegation dispatched to help bring the town’s administration back on track said on Friday that the reasons given by residents for not paying their bills were “unacceptable”.The Deputy Director of Traditional Authority Co-ordination in the Ministry of Regional and Local Government and Housing, Gabes Shivolo, said he was left with no choice but to take “drastic steps” against residents.The first disconnections of services were made on Thursday afternoon.Shivolo said a large number of residents would be affected by the action during this week.Residents have refused to settle their bills, alleging that town authorities were mismanaging funds.Shivolo said this was despite explanations that the ministerial delegation sent to the town two weeks ago had opened a separate account into which payments were being deposited and which it was overseeing.The Ministry of Regional and Local Government and Housing brokered a deal with NamWater and NamPower three weeks ago to restore supplies to the town.At the time it owed the two companies in excess of N$2 million.The Ministry said consumers had to be forced to pay for the services they received, and the council had to be held responsible for its debts to their suppliers.A delegation from the Ministry will spend at least another two weeks at the town training staff and adjusting current management systems.Now the Town Council has started to cut off supplies as it seeks to retrieve the more than N$6,1 million owed by residents.Large numbers of residents are set to be affected.The head of a Government delegation dispatched to help bring the town’s administration back on track said on Friday that the reasons given by residents for not paying their bills were “unacceptable”.The Deputy Director of Traditional Authority Co-ordination in the Ministry of Regional and Local Government and Housing, Gabes Shivolo, said he was left with no choice but to take “drastic steps” against residents.The first disconnections of services were made on Thursday afternoon.Shivolo said a large number of residents would be affected by the action during this week.Residents have refused to settle their bills, alleging that town authorities were mismanaging funds.Shivolo said this was despite explanations that the ministerial delegation sent to the town two weeks ago had opened a separate account into which payments were being deposited and which it was overseeing.The Ministry of Regional and Local Government and Housing brokered a deal with NamWater and NamPower three weeks ago to restore supplies to the town.At the time it owed the two companies in excess of N$2 million.The Ministry said consumers had to be forced to pay for the services they received, and the council had to be held responsible for its debts to their suppliers.A delegation from the Ministry will spend at least another two weeks at the town training staff and adjusting current management systems.