Sankwasa ponders on southern local councils’ debts

KEETMANSHOOP – Urban and Rural Development Minister, James Sankwasa, expressed his utmost disappointment towards local authorities in the //Kharas and Hardap regions who, despite selling prepaid electricity, still have astronomical outstanding debts with bulk electricity distributor NamPower.

He rebuked the institutions during a stakeholder meeting last weekend, discussing the speedy establishment and operationalisation of Southern Regional Electricity Distributor (Sored).

Demanding explanations from administrators for the current state of affairs at municipalities, town councils, villages
and settlements, he probed: “If electricity supply is cut off, how will you explain to those who put you into power and entrusted you with public funds, as government will not be in a position to bail you out?’’

Referring to a letter informing his office of the reality, he singled out Mariental Municipality owing N$295 million, Rehoboth Town Council (N$145 million), Karasburg Town Council (N$74 million) and Aranos Village Council (N$71 million) as registering the highest arrear amounts owed to NamPower as at 24 September 2026.

“Residents paid for pre-paid electricity, but you still owe that money and since it is government’s responsibility to protect citizens against maladministration and mismanagement of funds at local
authorities, know that if you cannot explain what happened to the money, be prepared I am coming for you,’’ he warned.

The politician then wanted to know from the stakeholders whether revenues collected from customers are properly accounted for and applied towards the electricity business.

“Electricity revenue must serve the purpose for which it is collected; namely towards paying bulk suppliers, supporting the maintenance and rehabilitation of infrastructure and contributing towards ensuring reliable and sustainable electricity distribution,’’ he advised.

He however gave the assurance that his concern is not an accusation against any local authority, but rather a call for greater accountability and stronger financial discipline across the systems.

Sankwasa also reasoned that this scenario in essence made more reason for the establishment of Sored, reasoning that political agendas should now be set aside as the two regions have been waiting for the past 13 years to have a regional electricity distributor like the rest of the regions.

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