The Rundu Town Council has called on the residents to report vandalism on the council’s equipment and the theft of the council’s materials, as theft and vandalism waste the council’s financial resources.
The call comes after newly installed electrical equipment at the town’s industrial area was vandalised and stolen a few weeks ago.
The council’s manager of infrastructure, planning and technical services, John Sinime, expressed concern at the rate at which the equipment is being vandalised.
The vandalised and stolen equipment includes street lights, electrical power boxes and underground power cables that were dug up and ripped out.
In an interview with The Namibian yesterday, Sinime said the vandalised electrical equipment is part of a project initiated to develop the industrial area in 2021 to bring essential services to the area. The council sold plots in the area, most of them undeveloped due to a lack of essential services such as electricity, roads and water.
“But now people have started vandalising the equipment that has been installed. This is a setback to the council. And now with the cables and other materials stolen, the council will spend another N$2,5 million to repair what has been stolen and vandalised,” said Sinime.
He said the cost of the project was estimated at N$1,5 million, adding that the council has spent nearly a N$1 million since the project started.
“Council has lost a lot, but the project is still in the hands of the contractor and the consulting engineers. We appeal to the public to report anyone selling copper wire and cables at scrap yards.
“If we turn a blind eye to theft and vandalism, our town won’t develop. People are forever complaining about development, but these are the types of projects the council is bringing to develop the town.
“There are the people who want to derail our development. However, there are those good residents who feel the need to protect our development. Please come forward and report this type of issues,” said Sinime.
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