By Eliaser Ndeyanale
WINDHOEK residents will have to tighten their belts as increases in municipal services kick in this month.
According to minutes from a recent City of Windhoek meeting, the municipality council proposed at its management committee meeting on August 02 2016, to raise water and sanitation service tariffs by 10 and 18 percent respectively.
Over 40 percent of the fee will be charged for water connections and disconnections.
CoW also hiked property tax and waste removal fees. These additional tariffs revised for the financial year 2016/17 will be effective as of February 15. The City’s financial year ends June 30.
Emergency Management Services for ambulances were hiked from N$864.17 to N$886.05 due to annual inflation, fuel and maintenance costs of expensive response vehicles.
Fire brigade services will increase to N$1 688.58 from N$1 534.33; facility rentals from N$401.55 to N$441.71; issue of duplicate certificates from N$6 164.68 to N$6781.15, and instructor fees are now at N$197.09 from the current N$197.00.
The City has also proposed an increase in rentals for its properties. “The lessees are in term required to pay a subsidised fee which is used towards maintenance, cleanliness and hygiene of the premises. In this way, the City of Windhoek assists in addressing the problem of unemployment to subsequently reduce the imbalances in income distribution.”
Lessees that are renting kiosks in Post Street Mall will be charged N$4 371.42 from N$3 920.56, industrial stores rental fees at N$1 598.89 from N$1 506.97, food stands N$657.85 from N$620.03.
The City also recommended for hikes in entrance fees at recreational facilities.
“The parks, recreations, sport and cemeteries division is proposing a 20 percent increase in swimming pool and sport and recreation facility tariffs, due to an increase in water during the current financial year. The cost of maintaining the facilities are much higher.
“Fees charged for Sam Nujoma Stadium main field, training field for soccer practice and rent for informal stall is too low leading to overuse of the soccer fields while the stalls are subleased for much higher fees than the fees charged by the council.”
Zoo Park rental fees are expected to move from N$2 666.67 to N$3066.67. Cemetery and cremation fees will increase to N$1 342.12 from N$1 080.52.
There will be increases in rentals fees for abattoirs, hairdressing salons and workshops at informal markets.