Landlord expresses relief over electricity tariff increase suspension

By: Ketemba Tjipepa
A landlord from Windhoek’s Damara Location, Jacqueline Cloete, expressed relief following the announcement that the planned 8% electricity tariff increase, originally effective from 1st July, has been cancelled.
The decision came after the government allocated N$365 million to subsidise electricity costs for the 2024/25 financial year.Cloete, who rents out three bedrooms at her home said the initial electricity tariff increase hit her hard.
“When ECB introduced the increase of the electricity tariff, it touched me seriously, very hard. It had a punch on my face, a serious one. Because why am I saying this?I’m not working, I’m unemployed,” stated Cloete, adding that she is also looking after her four children and her later sister’s two children.
Cloete said many families were under financial pressure because electricity for $300 barely lasted a week.
“On the 25th, I put $300 worth of electricity that I got from my tenants.The units are only 117 or 120. So, this electricity only lasted until this week, Tuesday. It’s finished.Yesterday, we put N$50 electricity, but now it's standing on 0.92. So, it means it will be done any minute. So, the increase was hectic. Even the elders are complaining about the increase of the electricity,” said Cloete.
Similarly, social activist Shaun Gariseb emphasised the need for sustainable energy solutions such as solar power.
“Of course, this is not a long-term solution in a sense that, and I’ve also alluded this in my review appeal to him ( Mines Minister), that we are all cognisant of the fact that Namibia is over-relying on South Africa and on the Southern African Power Pool, which is the SAPP, for electricity. So we are also learning that Zambia ZESCO is going to reduce its contribution to SAPP,which is in the excess of 100 megawatts. That means Namibia must source alternative ways of sourcing electricity," stated Gariseb.
Gariseb announced the cancellation of a planned demonstration scheduled for Saturday after the minister of mines and energy, Tom Alweendo, cancelled the tariff increase.
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