Windhoek – The City of Windhoek Council has introduced a significant debt relief programme to aid eligible residents and businesses, amounting to a total of N.dollars 524 million. This initiative was announced in a press release on Tuesday by the city’s spokesperson Lydia Amutenya.

According to Namibia Press Agency (NAMPA), the debt relief programme, set to commence in 2024, will offer complete interest cancellation of 100 percent for pensioners and 50 percent for businesses, residential debtors, and other debtors. This decision aims to assist residents in managing their financial obligations and promote regular bill payments. The necessity for this programme arose as the City’s Debt Book escalated from N.dollars 677 million in 2018 to N.dollars 1.2 billion in 2023. In 2018, the council had implemented a similar debt write-off of N.dollars 191 million for pensioners and vulnerable residents. However, the financial hardships faced by many due to the COVID-19 pandemic led to an increase in unpaid bills.

In addition to the debt relief announcement, Amutenya noted that the City of Windhoek will officially commence the holiday season by switching on the annual Christmas lights at 19h00 on Friday, marking a festive start for Windhoek residents.