Windhoek stops payment ‘bonus’

ABOUT 50 per cent of Windhoek residents who have a municipal account are in arrears and their debts total around N$200 million – a fact that Councillor Elaine Trepper highlighted last week when Council approved the municipality’s new budget.

Yet the City is stopping its incentive scheme for those who pay their accounts on time, it was announced on Friday. “Council resolved to cease the current incentive scheme at the end of the 2007-08 financial year and allow for a study to be conducted in order to recommend a more effective incentive scheme,” municipal spokesperson Liz Sibindi said.”Residents are therefore informed that the incentive scheme has been ceased until further notice, but are encouraged to continue making timely payments for their municipal services without delay,” Sibindi said in a statement.”An assessment revealed that the Scheme did not achieve its objective, which was to inspire residents into changing their non-payment behaviour.”The City of Windhoek introduced the incentive scheme in 2006 to reward qualifying clients who pay their accounts regularly or repay their debts to the City.The scheme was administered through a lucky draw and the names of the winners were published in the municipal newsletter ‘Aloe’.Depending on the outcome of the study, better incentives might be introduced, Sibindi said.The Windhoek municipality has been blamed in recent months for auctioning off the houses of poor people who owe the City as little as N$6 000.”Council resolved to cease the current incentive scheme at the end of the 2007-08 financial year and allow for a study to be conducted in order to recommend a more effective incentive scheme,” municipal spokesperson Liz Sibindi said.”Residents are therefore informed that the incentive scheme has been ceased until further notice, but are encouraged to continue making timely payments for their municipal services without delay,” Sibindi said in a statement.”An assessment revealed that the Scheme did not achieve its objective, which was to inspire residents into changing their non-payment behaviour.”The City of Windhoek introduced the incentive scheme in 2006 to reward qualifying clients who pay their accounts regularly or repay their debts to the City.The scheme was administered through a lucky draw and the names of the winners were published in the municipal newsletter ‘Aloe’.Depending on the outcome of the study, better incentives might be introduced, Sibindi said.The Windhoek municipality has been blamed in recent months for auctioning off the houses of poor people who owe the City as little as N$6 000.