City of Windhoek declines pensioner debt write-off

The City of Windhoek has turned down a petition calling for the unconditional cancellation of pensioner debts, because of financial stability concerns and adherence to council policy. The City’s spokesperson, Lydia Amutenya, says that any debt relief must follow the existing framework approved in 2023, which was designed to preserve service delivery while supporting vulnerable groups.

To date, more than N$124 million in residential debt has been written off through the current relief programme, with approximately 500 pensioners having applied for assistance. Amutenya encouraged all eligible pensioners to participate in the existing scheme instead of relying on an unconditional write-off.

The Khomas Ratepayers and Residents Association criticised the programme’s exclusion of many elderly residents who cannot install prepaid meters, a requirement for eligibility. The City acknowledged these challenges and said it is working to improve coordination across municipal departments to support affected individuals.