Windhoek's accounts remain under a magnifying glass
The Competition Commission asked residents for their municipal accounts.
The Namibian Competition Commission (NaCC) wants to meet with the Windhoek municipality in response to complaints received from residents due to discrepancies on their municipal accounts.Acting chief executive and secretary of the commission, Johannes Ashipala, wrote to community activist Shaun Gariseb of the Katutura Residents' Committee (KRC), requesting that at least 10 invoices be provided by today.
The receipts should reflect complaints from Katutura residents. Evidence is specifically requested in cases where people have been handed over to the debt collector RedForce. The commission offers anonymity.
NaCC's spokesperson, Dina //Gowases, elaborated that the commission is investigating the possibility of abuse of authority by local authorities in awarding third-party contracts to collect debts.
According to //Gowases, the municipality works well with the commission.
Contact persons
“It is necessary for the physical bills to be seen to determine if residents do not have to pay extra for debt collection, as opposed to just the amount they owe.
On Wednesday, Gariseb started spreading this message through social media and encourages residents of Khomasdal to approach Lance Willemse, Otjomuise residents Rita Skrywer, and Katutura Central's residents Jacky Cloete.
In Goreangab, the Twahangane group's leadership was mentioned as a point of contact, while Hakahana residents, according to Gariseb, can contact Albertina Shiwedha in Habitat 2. In Soweto, Patrick Dora is the committee leader, while Senior Muhongi is responsible for the single quarters and the Marula area.
"Wanaheda and Greenwell must contact our committee leaders in those areas," Gariseb said.
He goes on to say "the commission wants ten accounts, let's give them 100 to show how serious the situation is".
The municipal accounts can also be sent to [email protected].
'Fraudulent'
"We all know that the fraudulent accounting system and fraudulent formula used to estimate water is the cause of all this chaos," he says.
He also encourages dissatisfied residents to submit sworn statements to the Namibian police (Nampol) with the case number CR 417/07/2024. He recently filed charges of theft, fraud and corruption at the Windhoek police station due to the municipality's accounting practices.
When enquired, the chief spokesman of Nampol, adj. comm. Kauna Shikwambi, confirms that a case has indeed been filed, with Gariseb as the main complainant and others as witnesses.
"All cases that are reported to the police receive attention and each case is handled and or investigated based on its merits. The investigation is ongoing and should there be a need for public assistance, it will be announced through the media," she added. – [email protected]