Town council puts the bite on critics

THE Omaruru municipality has issued a week’s deadline demanding that two leaders of a group that has been criticising the administration of the town to pay their outstanding accounts or face lawsuits.

Skii Wasserfall and Ernst Naomab, who received the notices at the end of last week, believe they are being targeted for criticising the municipality for what they claim to be mismanagement of the town. “It comes all of a sudden.It’s a bit fishy, it’s just fishy that the demand was being made now,” said Wasserfall who received the notice on Saturday.Wasserfall, at a community meeting held in the middle of this month, criticised municipal staff for failing to act in an exemplary way by not paying outstanding bills.Chief Executive Officer Johannes Xoagub said the two had not been singled out.He said they were issued with the letters of demand threatening legal action together with 37 other ratepayers.Besides, said Xoagub, he was surprised that the same people who criticised them and other residents for failing to pay their bills were now questioning the municipality for taking action against them.”Obviously they were the two guys who questioned outstanding amounts.They were saying we are not doing enough [to collect the debt], and they are not paying.It is Wasserfall who wanted people to be handed over to lawyers… if that step is being implemented it is because of his plea,” said Xoagub.Wasserfall said he had discussed his debt with municipal officials and had promised to pay when he has “an income”.He said the arrears had accumulated at a liquor outlet he used to operate until August last year.Xoagub said “it’s only fair” that people be reminded of their obligations “otherwise people will develop a culture of not paying”.Omaruru residents, excluding the Government, owed the municipality N$1,45 million by the end of June.Xoagub described the Government as their best payer, in contrast to other towns where many government offices are in arrears.”It comes all of a sudden.It’s a bit fishy, it’s just fishy that the demand was being made now,” said Wasserfall who received the notice on Saturday.Wasserfall, at a community meeting held in the middle of this month, criticised municipal staff for failing to act in an exemplary way by not paying outstanding bills.Chief Executive Officer Johannes Xoagub said the two had not been singled out.He said they were issued with the letters of demand threatening legal action together with 37 other ratepayers.Besides, said Xoagub, he was surprised that the same people who criticised them and other residents for failing to pay their bills were now questioning the municipality for taking action against them.”Obviously they were the two guys who questioned outstanding amounts.They were saying we are not doing enough [to collect the debt], and they are not paying.It is Wasserfall who wanted people to be handed over to lawyers… if that step is being implemented it is because of his plea,” said Xoagub.Wasserfall said he had discussed his debt with municipal officials and had promised to pay when he has “an income”.He said the arrears had accumulated at a liquor outlet he used to operate until August last year.Xoagub said “it’s only fair” that people be reminded of their obligations “otherwise people will develop a culture of not paying”.Omaruru residents, excluding the Government, owed the municipality N$1,45 million by the end of June.Xoagub described the Government as their best payer, in contrast to other towns where many government offices are in arrears.