The Okakarara Municipality has passed a resolution to write off the interest on rates and taxes incurred by its residents.

This is to help the council continue to generate money and reconnect services.

Residents owe the council N$68 million in rates and taxes. 

Mayor Siegfried Tjehiua pleaded with the residents to "make use of this opportunity now because for the past years, people have been unable to pay off their debts to the town council. This is mostly because they have been paying only the interest and not reducing the principal, as most of our people's debts are very high. They owe a lot in rates to the town council."

Tjehiua added that the council is further challenged by non-functioning prepaid water meters installed at the Okatumba location by a contractor who did a botched job despite being fully paid.

"The company that was employed did not complete the work to make sure the residents get water. Standpipes that are standing there do not produce any water. A lot, even up to 20 standpipes in our storeroom, cannot be stored or cannot be installed until now because this company disappeared. So we took a resolution that it should be our duty now. We must make sure that we provide those people with water."

The sewer challenges and spillages around the town are also being addressed, with plans to adjust the underground sewer pipes to match the growing population demand.

Okakarara is home to over 7,000 inhabitants.