Zorena Jantze<\/b><\/p>\n
Africa-Press – Namibia. <\/strong><\/span>THE Minister of Urban and Rural Development, Erastus Uutoni today had to shelter the Mayor of the City of Windhoek (CoW), against an angry crowd of Katutura residents who demanded for the removal of the mayor from the premises when they went to go see the minister, to share their discontent against the Redforce debt collection company which cut off their water supply.<\/p>\n The protestors, said that the Mayor of the City of Windhoek, Joseph Uapingene, provoked them with his presence at the Ministry of Urban and Rural Development, after not responding to a petition they handed in six months ago, on the removal of Red Force debt collection which has been cutting water supply of the residents due to arrears.<\/p>\n \u201cWe don\u2019t want leaders that run in-between offices at the last minute. By the time there is a demonstration, the leader is running to the minister. We take it as if he is trying to influence the minister. They were supposed to be updated the minister on this matter a long time ago,\u201d said Benestus Kandundu, Chairperson the Katutura Residents Committee.<\/p>\n Kandundu said that they wish to bring attention to the issues that affect the residents of Katutura at a grass root level. He further added that these issues have deteriorated due to the economic slowdown and is now at the stage where residents seek ministerial intervention.<\/p>\n Kandundu, explained that their demands are for the Writing off of debt by the CoW as well as the elimination of consumption estimates on water meters.<\/p>\n \u201cWe already said that the way the city is applying their policies is old fashioned. For how long will you stick to estimation of accounts after 30 years. In terms of the actual water charges you add interest charges. You are happy to make more money off that one, at the end of the day you are happy to see the auctioning off of house due to debt,\u201d Kandundu said.<\/p>\n He further said that the residents also ask for the introduction of prepaid water and electricity systems which will ensure that residents will not accumulate debt,<\/p>\n Kandundu said that these demands have been shared with the City of Windhoek since 5 April 2023, however have fallen on deaf ears, resulting in their march to the Minister of Urban and Rural Development.<\/p>\n Responding to the crowd, Uutoni said that the most important thing is that the message of the residents of Katutura has reached his office, and that leaders and councilors should hear the pleas of their people, adding that it does not only include the Mayor of the City of Windhoek, but all 15 of them.<\/p>\n \u201cIf you say the minister has been sleeping I will stop sleeping and wake up. I will communicate this as a matter of urgency to City of Windhoek. I ask will for his response and give it to you or ask them to address you themselves,\u201d Uutoni concluded.<\/p>\n For More News And Analysis About Namibia<\/a> Follow Africa-Press<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Zorena Jantze Africa-Press – Namibia. THE Minister of Urban and Rural Development, Erastus Uutoni today had to shelter the Mayor of the City of Windhoek (CoW), against an angry crowd of Katutura residents who demanded for the removal of the mayor from the premises when they went to go see the minister, to share their […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":84,"featured_media":53053,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2,12],"tags":[234,236,233],"class_list":["post-53054","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-all-news","category-policy","tag-africa-press","tag-africa-press-namibia","tag-namibia"],"yoast_head":"\n