Local authorities in Namibia have a legitimate responsibility to recover outstanding revenue and protect their financial sustainability. However, the collection of municipal debt has raised concerns about the impact on access to essential services. The approach taken by some municipalities to disconnect water and electricity services has sparked debate about whether councils are striking the right balance between financial discipline and social responsibility.
The Rundu Town Council has warned residents owing more than N$1,000 and businesses and institutions with outstanding balances exceeding N$4,000 that they face disconnection. The council's proposed payment arrangements require residential customers to pay 30% upfront and settle the balance over six months, while businesses and institutions must pay 50% upfront. However, the council has stated that no negotiations, exceptions, or alternative payment arrangements will be entertained.
In Windhoek, the municipality has embarked on a mass disconnection exercise targeting customers in arrears across all suburbs. Human rights lawyer Norman Tjombe has questioned the legality and human rights implications of disconnecting water supplies, particularly for vulnerable households. Water is not an ordinary municipal commodity, but a fundamental human right recognised by Namibia's Water Resources Management Act of 2013.
Denying households access to potable water can have serious consequences, particularly for households with young children, elderly residents, people living with chronic illnesses, and families already struggling to meet basic living expenses. The City of Windhoek has disclosed that its debtors' book stands at approximately N$932.7 million, an enormous liability for a municipality responsible for maintaining infrastructure and ensuring continued service delivery.
Municipalities cannot operate sustainably without revenue, and when customers fail to pay, the financial burden eventually affects everyone, including those who consistently honour their accounts. The City of Windhoek has made provision for vulnerable residents through a debt relief programme, with approximately N$383.9 million already written off, benefiting pensioners, orphan-led households, and other qualifying groups.
However, the question remains whether such interventions are sufficiently accessible, adequately communicated, and responsive to the economic circumstances of ordinary households. The timing of these disconnection exercises also deserves consideration, as Namibia is experiencing economic pressures and the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak has disrupted rural livelihoods and threatened employment in parts of the meat industry.
Ultimately, local authorities must protect their revenue bases while also being public institutions with obligations to the communities they serve. Financial discipline and compassion are not mutually exclusive, and municipalities should consider whether disconnection is always the most effective first response or whether more structured engagement and targeted debt recovery could achieve better results.
Key points
- Municipalities must balance debt collection with social responsibility to avoid compromising human dignity and public health.
- The City of Windhoek has made provision for vulnerable residents through a debt relief programme.
- Namibia's Water Resources Management Act of 2013 recognises equitable access to safe drinking water as a basic human right.
