Namibia: Antipathy Towards Reds in South - Viewed as Anti-Poor

Keetmanshoop — The //Karas Regional Council is reluctant to approve plans for the establishment of a Regional Electricity Distributor (RED), claiming it will adversely affect the day-to-day operations of the region's local authorities that are already struggling.

During a consultative meeting with officials of the Electricity Control Board (ECB) last week Tuesday at Keetmanshoop, Keetmanshoop Rural constituency councillor, Jims Christiaans, said local authorities operate mainly on the money they collect for services such as water and electricity. The Ministry of Mines and Energy has already issued directives for the establishment of five RED's. The Northern Electricity Distributor (Nored), Erongo Regional Electricity Distributor (Erongo Red), Central-North Electricity Distribution Company (Pty) Ltd (Cenored) are already operational. He also indicated that several councils have already failed to pay the salaries of employees and to deliver services after a third party was brought in. He appealed to government to subsidize the operational costs of local authorities should plans go ahead to create the Southern Regional Electricity Distributor (Sored).

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