Some Otweya homes still without electricity
In total darkness
Residents of Otweya, in Walvis Bay, find themselves grappling with uncertainties regarding the delayed electrification of their homes.
Nehale Lya Mpingana (jr.), the chairman of the Otweya community, has expressed frustration over what he termed “the unequal distribution of electricity” among homeowners.
“The testing of homes to see if they were fit for electricity was done on 2 May 2023 by Erongo RED, and the handover of pre-paid meter boxes was done on 21 August 2023. Eighteen homes are still in total darkness. We call on the government to assist us in addressing the issue, as it is the children in our community who remain in darkness amidst the ongoing challenges.”
Initiated in 2021, the Otweya project saw the construction of 142 houses, with 121 officially handed over to residents by the late President Hage Geingob on 10 September 2021. However, despite the inauguration, electricity was not fully connected in 2023, leaving many homes still in darkness.
According to Mpingana, he approached and requested that the office of the Erongo governor investigate the issue, only to be redirected to the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).
“The Anti-Corruption Commission denied that there were any delaying tactics being exercised concerning the supply of electricity and emphasised that their role is to investigate only. The ACC also said that it is only the governor that has the power to approve the provision of electricity in a certain area.”
Mpinga further alleges that the list of names of fire victims that was sent to the office of the governor via the National Housing Enterprise (NHE) was incomplete as some names were removed from the list. According to him, when he inquired about this aspect, the governor, Neville Andre, allegedly called him out and said, “You don’t always have to complain to me, you low classes”.
Michael Jimmy, the PA of the governor, denied the allegations made by Mpingana.
“The governor never spoke to Mpingana in a disrespectful manner. All houses that were supposed to get electricity were electrified, apart from those with ownership disputes.”
He also gave the assurance that efforts to resolve the issue of the 18 houses that remain without electricity are ongoing.
Mpingana says that he also visited Erongo RED and had a conversation with former chief executive officer, Fessor Mbango.
“He responded that Erongo Red does not have an issue with electrifying the houses as per the cabinet’s request but emphasised the necessity of having a permit to do so.” – [email protected]
“The testing of homes to see if they were fit for electricity was done on 2 May 2023 by Erongo RED, and the handover of pre-paid meter boxes was done on 21 August 2023. Eighteen homes are still in total darkness. We call on the government to assist us in addressing the issue, as it is the children in our community who remain in darkness amidst the ongoing challenges.”
Initiated in 2021, the Otweya project saw the construction of 142 houses, with 121 officially handed over to residents by the late President Hage Geingob on 10 September 2021. However, despite the inauguration, electricity was not fully connected in 2023, leaving many homes still in darkness.
According to Mpingana, he approached and requested that the office of the Erongo governor investigate the issue, only to be redirected to the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).
“The Anti-Corruption Commission denied that there were any delaying tactics being exercised concerning the supply of electricity and emphasised that their role is to investigate only. The ACC also said that it is only the governor that has the power to approve the provision of electricity in a certain area.”
Mpinga further alleges that the list of names of fire victims that was sent to the office of the governor via the National Housing Enterprise (NHE) was incomplete as some names were removed from the list. According to him, when he inquired about this aspect, the governor, Neville Andre, allegedly called him out and said, “You don’t always have to complain to me, you low classes”.
Michael Jimmy, the PA of the governor, denied the allegations made by Mpingana.
“The governor never spoke to Mpingana in a disrespectful manner. All houses that were supposed to get electricity were electrified, apart from those with ownership disputes.”
He also gave the assurance that efforts to resolve the issue of the 18 houses that remain without electricity are ongoing.
Mpingana says that he also visited Erongo RED and had a conversation with former chief executive officer, Fessor Mbango.
“He responded that Erongo Red does not have an issue with electrifying the houses as per the cabinet’s request but emphasised the necessity of having a permit to do so.” – [email protected]
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