Katutura residents want answers
The Katutura Residents Committee say they plan on contesting the City of Windhoek's decision to write off 50% interest on ordinary residents' water debt.
The group's leader, Shaun Gariseb, said this while discussing the parliamentary standing committee of human resources and community development’s failure to host a community briefing earlier this week.
This follows deliberations around a motion on electricity and water debt write-off, tabled in 2022.
"On Monday, when the meeting had to take place, they called at the last minute and cancelled the meeting. Community members took leave from their jobs just to be told it was not happening. The community has waited for this public hearing since 2020, so we are disappointed. In addition, we are not done with the City. We will still give them direction in terms of what needs to happen to the groupings," Gariseb said.
He told Namibian Sun: “We will let them know that the proposed 50% interest write-off is not ideal.”
Katutura residents believe that without the implementation of several recommendations made by the community, the writing off of debt alone does not address all of their concerns.
Needs not met
According to Gariseb, a parliamentary standing committee was supposed to host an information session with the Katutura residents to find out what the residents need and also to share the outcomes of the committee's meeting.
"We had seven recommendations, which we handed over to the City and the line ministry. The writing off of debts has already started in early February in Windhoek and other towns. So what else does the standing committee want to deliberate on?" Gariseb asked.
"Towns like Henties Bay and Swakopmund also started with the writing off of debts after they saw the actions taken in Windhoek," he said.
Gariseb believes that without the implementation of the recommendations and proposed mechanisms from the community, the writing off of debts alone does not address all concerns.
The group's leader, Shaun Gariseb, said this while discussing the parliamentary standing committee of human resources and community development’s failure to host a community briefing earlier this week.
This follows deliberations around a motion on electricity and water debt write-off, tabled in 2022.
"On Monday, when the meeting had to take place, they called at the last minute and cancelled the meeting. Community members took leave from their jobs just to be told it was not happening. The community has waited for this public hearing since 2020, so we are disappointed. In addition, we are not done with the City. We will still give them direction in terms of what needs to happen to the groupings," Gariseb said.
He told Namibian Sun: “We will let them know that the proposed 50% interest write-off is not ideal.”
Katutura residents believe that without the implementation of several recommendations made by the community, the writing off of debt alone does not address all of their concerns.
Needs not met
According to Gariseb, a parliamentary standing committee was supposed to host an information session with the Katutura residents to find out what the residents need and also to share the outcomes of the committee's meeting.
"We had seven recommendations, which we handed over to the City and the line ministry. The writing off of debts has already started in early February in Windhoek and other towns. So what else does the standing committee want to deliberate on?" Gariseb asked.
"Towns like Henties Bay and Swakopmund also started with the writing off of debts after they saw the actions taken in Windhoek," he said.
Gariseb believes that without the implementation of the recommendations and proposed mechanisms from the community, the writing off of debts alone does not address all concerns.
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