Prepaid water for more Otjomuise settlers

WINDHOEK mayor Muesee Kazapua said illegal shacks erected at some of the informal settlements in the Otjomuise area should also be provided with prepaid water cards.

Kazapua, who made the call at the Windhoek municipality monthly council meeting last week, said meter cards for water and electricity should be provided to residents in Otjomuise Extension Six and Seven in order to curb vandalism of the newly replaced prepaid water taps.

Kazapua’s suggestion was supported by other councilors who said that during the numbering process, it was discovered that the issuing of water cards was aimed at all the people living in the informal settlement in Otjomuise, irrespective of whether they were authorised or unauthorised occupants.

However, some councilors argued that giving illegal shack dwellers water cards will create expectations that the land now belongs to them.

The municipality said should approval be granted to go ahead with the move, it will be applicable for similar projects of the replacement of communal water stand pipes with prepaid water pipes and meters in other informal settlement areas with illegal settlers in the future.

Kazapua, however, said that the existing shacks should continue to be numbered in order to avoid the mushrooming of more illegal shacks. “If you do not number them, there will be new illegal shacks set up next to them,” he argued.

However, the municipality also noted that the numbering process is seen to be contributing to the increase of land invasion in contradiction of the City’s mission to curb the illegal occupation of land.

“There was a scenario that occurred where the department of urban planning and property management issued an eviction notice to an unprocedural occupant and at the same time the department of community services numbered the same structure with the purpose of issuing a prepaid water card,” reads the minutes of the council.

The strategic executive arm of the infrastructure, water and technical services at the municipality recently embarked on the project aimed at replacing the conventional communal water stand pipes in Otjomuise Extensions Six and Seven with communal pre-paid water standpipes.

The municipality said the move came about as a result of high water wastage discovered from conventional communal water which was observed during the water usage inspection carried out by the department in the affected areas.

“It is expected that the pre-paid water stands will also generate revenue for the City in comparison with the communal water stand pipes,” the municipality said in the minutes contained in the council document.

The community services has started with the numbering and socio-economic survey of all houses including the unprocedural settlers so that they can buy prepaid water tokens and eventually have access to water. The department has already installed 56 prepaid water meters which are already in use. The council deferred the matter to the management committee for further deliberations.

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