SPYL wants prepaid water meters for Rundu

RUNDU, 05 NOV – The Swapo Party Youth League (SPYL) in the Kavango East Region has proposed the introduction of prepaid water meters in Rundu.

According to the youth league, this will allow the Rundu Town Council (RTC) to generate money and minimise the chances of residents owing for services.

The SPYL here over the weekend drew up some six recommendations it will present to the council as their contribution to help avoid future water crises at the town.

Rundu, which has been without water since last Friday, was reconnected after the Ministry of Urban and Rural Development announced that it will pay NamWater enough for the town to be supplied with water for the next three months.

SPYL regional secretary Anselm Marungu said he applauds the efforts of RTC acting Chief Executive Officer Sikongo Haihambo and his team for largely ensuring water supply with the little resources at their disposal.

“We are informed that Rundu has a total population of 85 000 residents who are consuming water on a daily basis. Registered account holders are only 14 400 of which just about 4 000 are obedient payers,” he said.

Marungu said this is clear that the council does not collect enough revenue from water provision.
It is for this reason that SPYL drew up recommendations to engage the council and come up with practical solutions the two parties can work on to minimise water predicaments and other related issues at the town.

Another suggestion by the youth league is for the Ministry of Urban and Rural Development to speed up the process of formalising informal settlements.

Doing so will reduce the illegal connections of water and make those users pay for the services as well, it said.
“We further recommend that RTC create a debt collection department that will deal with following up on people that owe the council and it must also conduct monthly awareness programmes to sensitise residents on their responsibilities such as paying for services,” SPYL said.
(NAMPA)