Patience Makwele
The minister of industries, mines and energy, Modestus Amutse, has called on regional electricity distributors to make electricity reliable, affordable and accessible to all Namibians by 2028.
Amutse made the remarks on Tuesday during a meeting with board members and senior management of the Northern Regional Electricity Distributor (Nored) in Ondangwa.
The meeting followed complaints from communities about high tariffs, connection costs and service delivery.
“Electricity is not a luxury. It is a necessity,” Amutse said.
He said access remains uneven, with affordability limiting access for many households.
“If we are talking about accessibility, we are not talking about only rich people. Now you find that only those with means are able to afford electricity,” he said.
Amutse urged distributors to move beyond plans and focus on practical solutions.
“Affordability must be affordability. It mustn’t just be a statement,” he said.
He said electricity supports small businesses, education and healthcare, especially in underserved areas.
He also raised concerns about supply reliability, especially during the rainy season when outages increase.
Communities in northern Namibia have reported blackouts that affect households and services.
Amutse said unreliable supply weakens confidence in the system.
He called for improved maintenance of infrastructure, including streetlights, which he said pose safety risks when not working.
He also raised concerns about delays in new connections.
He said some applicants wait months before being connected, slowing development.
Amutse said these delays must be addressed.
“Wherever I go, I will preach this,” he said.
He said electricity distributors must act to improve access and service delivery as the country works to expand its energy sector.
