Windhoek faces N$932.7 million in unpaid bills
The City of Windhoek is conducting mass disconnections for accounts in arrears for over 30 days.
The City of Windhoek is owed N$932.7 million in outstanding municipal bills and has begun a mass disconnection exercise. This action targets accounts that have been in arrears for at least 30 days, as part of the municipality’s approved credit control policy to recover revenue for operations and essential services.
City officials stated the disconnection exercise is a lawful credit control measure, not a punishment or a sign of governance failure, aimed at recovering N$932.7 million in debt. Revenue collected funds bulk water and electricity purchases, refuse removal, and infrastructure maintenance, with non-payment risking delays in repairs and service reliability.
Residents facing financial difficulties can negotiate payment arrangements or apply for debt relief, which has already seen N$383.9 million written off between 2023 and 2025. The municipality also rejected claims of a defective billing system, stating an anomaly in 2024 affected few accounts and was corrected.
Why it mattersResidents of Windhoek face service disconnections and potential legal action if they do not pay their municipal bills.