The City of Windhoek (CoW) is owed over one billion dollars in municipal bills as at August 2021, latest figures show.
Of the N$1.069 billion owed, more than N$820 million is in arrears, with N$195.9 million being current.
According to the CoW figures, normal residents are the biggest debtors, owing N$206.6 million, with N$114.1 million being in areas and N$91.5 million being current. Pensioners owe the
City N$71.8 million, with N$65 million being in areas and N$6.48 million being current.
The capital city is also owed N$61.88 million by businesses, with areas of N$27.1 million and N$34.35 million being their current balance.
Government, which had previously clashed with the municipality over its ballooning debt, owe the City Fathers N$36.98 million as of August, with N$11.86 being arrears and N$25 million current.
State Owned Enterprises were sitting with a N$29.2 million debt with N$20.42 million being in arrears and N$8.73 million being their current debt.
Interestingly, municipality employees owe the city N$3.25 million as of August, with N$1.4 million being in arrears and N$1.84 million being current.
Body Corporates have a debt of N$7 million, with N$2.8 million being in arrears and N$4.15 million being current (August,2021).
CoW Spokesperson, Harold Akwenye, said the municipality has witnessed an improvement in payments, with arrangements being entered into with those struggling to meet their bills.
“Yes, the City has seen a lot of improvement in residence and corporates paying their debts. Those that have difficulties in paying do make arrangements with our debt collection department. The City will stay committed to its mandate of service delivery to its residents at all times. The city has an open door policy to listen to its residents and to make necessary arrangements when they can’t make payments in time,” he told The Brief.
