The water supply of 12 schools at Otjiwarongo which had their services disconnected by the Otjiwarongo Municipality on Tuesday due to non-payment, was reconnected after the Ministry of Education, Arts and Culture pledged to pay N.dollars 600 000 by Friday.

Otjiwarongo Mayor, Gottlieb Shivute, on Thursday confirmed the pledge to Nampa in an interview, adding that the education ministry owes the municipality over N.dollars 1.6 million.

He also stated that residents, government ministries and several businesses owe the municipality more than N.dollars 54 million.

“The debts are in rates and taxes, which includes water supply to several schools in and around town,” he said.

The primary schools which were affected are Ombili, Rogate, Karundu PS, Orwetoveni, Spes Bona, Tsaxara Aibes, Donatus PS and Vooruit.

The other schools that had their water supply disconnected are Karundu Junior, Monica Geingos, Paresis Senior Secondary School (SSS), Otjiwarongo SSS and Donatus SSS, as well as the teachers resource centre, said Shivute.

Acting education director in the Otjozondjupa Region, !Garibasen /Uiseb, on Thursday said he was thankful that the water was restored Wednesday night as agreed by the municipality and his office.

/Uiseb said his office will pay N.dollars 600 000 for the water to be reconnected and further negotiations will take place.

The municipality also closed its water supply to the business complex of the Namibia Industrial Development Agency (NIDA) at the town.

NIDA senior property officer, Marvin Tjikongo, in a telephonic interview with Nampa on Wednesday said it is true that the complex has no water as NIDA owes the municipality more than N.dollars 324 000 in rates and taxes.

Tjikongo said his office will engage the municipality to install a prepaid water meter system for each of the 26 business units at the complex.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency