Allexer Namundjembo
Accredited electricians with the Central North Regional Electricity Distributor (Cenored) area say they are often overlooked when electrical tenders are allocated in their towns.
The electricians told the Windhoek Observer that despite being registered and accredited to carry out electrical services, contractors from other towns are sometimes brought in to do work in areas where qualified local electricians are available.
“Someone can be brought in from a different town to come do the wiring in Tsumeb. It is very bad considering that we also have qualified and professional electricians in Tsumeb or any other town that can do the work,” said one electrician who spoke on condition of anonymity.
Some electricians claim the way work is allocated within the company benefits certain individuals.
“We feel like there is also corruption in the whole process. We suspect that these things are done in a way that those closer to people in the company are recommending their companies or close friends to benefit from the tender or work,” the electricians alleged.
Established in 2005, Cenored distributes electricity across parts of the Otjozondjupa, Oshikoto, Kunene and Omaheke regions. It supplies towns such as Tsumeb, Otjiwarongo, Grootfontein and Outjo.
Cenored spokesperson Chali Matengu said the company has not received formal complaints from accredited electricians about the issue.
“We have not received any of those complaints from the accredited electricians. We have a database of all accredited electricians. Cenored only deals with the electricity meter installation,” he said.
Matengu told the Windhoek Observer on Wednesday that when customers approach the company for electrical work, they are given the database of accredited installers and can choose a contractor themselves.
He said some electricians may be confusing national tenders with local work.
“There are some projects that are advertised nationally. Those are national works that are open to every Namibian. They are advertised in newspapers and it is a bid open to everyone who is qualified except foreigners. Preferences are always given to Namibians,” Matengu said.
He added that only certain tenders requiring semi-skilled labour are limited to people living in areas served by Cenored.
“Tenders such as catering will be for people staying in the Cenored area. They do complain about it, but we are not trying to promote regionalism,” he said.
Its shareholders include regional councils, local authorities and the national power utility NamPower.
Cenored has also faced governance scrutiny in recent years. In 2025, Otjozondjupa governor John //Khamuseb spoke about alleged corruption, nepotism and favouritism in the company’s hiring practices.
Cenored was also affected by a fraud investigation in 2024 that led to the arrest of two employees accused of involvement in a scheme that allegedly defrauded the company of about N$12 million between 2021 and 2022.
