Keetmanshoop: The chairperson of the parliamentary standing committee on public accounts and economy has urged the Keetmanshoop Municipality and Namibia Industrial Development Agency (NIDA) to resolve their issues and reopen the Homs Ai Community Market. The standing committee's chairperson, Peter Kazongominja, made the appeal during a stakeholder engagement meeting here on Wednesday, saying the market is a community development project established to create jobs and alleviate poverty.
According to Namibia Press Agency, Kazongominja highlighted that during their visit in 2023, there was no water and electricity at the market, but some activities were ongoing. However, during a recent visit, the market was completely shut down. NIDA informed the committee that discussions with the municipality about the provision of prepaid water and electricity meters are ongoing, and clarity from the municipality is needed regarding progress and a sustainable solution.
The market, which previously hosted a community radio station, food stalls, a restaurant, and beauty salons, has been closed for over a year due to unresolved disputes over payment for water and electricity services. NIDA owes the municipality N.dollars 2.5 million in unpaid debt for these services.
Keetmanshoop Electricity Business Unit's acting strategic executive, Lee Mwemba, stated that the municipality and NIDA must decide on the way forward, specifically regarding who will bear the cost of the accumulated debt, before discussions on prepaid water and electricity meters can proceed. Mwemba emphasized that since December 2023, entities were called upon to enter payment arrangements, but NIDA has not shown interest, leading to the disconnection of electricity.
NIDA was advised to apply for interest on its principal debt to be written off during the municipality's amnesty period, which runs until May this year. Rehoboth Urban Constituency Councillor Harald Kambrude also urged NIDA to fulfill its financial obligations, stressing that it is not the municipality's responsibility to subsidize them. Kambrude called on the line ministry to ensure that NIDA meets its responsibilities.
The meeting was attended by officials from the municipality, NIDA, and the Ministry of Industrialisation and Trade.