Feature: Namibian slum dwellers yearn for stable, reliable electricity

In the heart of overlapping shack dwellings in Havana informal settlement on the outskirts of Namibian capital Windhoek, Matheus Kambonde sells commodities ranging from fresh meat to tin products.

Kambonde employs eight people and plans to expand his business, but unstable power supply from the illegal electricity connections is proving to be a stumbling block to his dream.

"The unstable power supply leads to financial losses as goods are often left to rot," he said.

This is a common tale for entrepreneurs in the shanty area.

"Last week, I had to dispose spoiled horse mackerel. But we have no choice, we have to earn a living," said Herman Shetu, another trader in Havana.

Residents too are thwarted by the illegal electricity connections in the informal settlement. Paulina Puleni said that the electrical cables are often visible and may spark flames, which can be very dangerous.

"The illegal electricity connections are a safety risk that leads to death and fire, especially for children, who are playful and unaware of the dangers," said Puleni.

As more people settle in shanty areas, more dwellers resort to illegal connections of electricity. Statistics from the Namibia Statistics Agency indicated that an estimated 113,000 people of the total Windhoek population of 326,000 reside in informal settlements.

For electricity theft, fines could range from 4,000 to 12,000 Namibian dollars (310 to 930 U.S. dollars), an amount to big for the residents to pay, given their socio-economic situation.

There is now a growing call among the residents on government to connect the informal settlement to the national power grid.

"We are pleading with government to provide us with electricity, because we have a major challenge of access to electricity, especially for us business people. We are trying to contribute to the country's economic growth but it is a big challenge," said Kambonde.

The increase of electricity theft in informal settlement prompted the decision by City of Windhoek to install sub-stations. Also, plans are underway to respond to the needs for power supply to the informal settlements such as Havana.

City of Windhoek spokesperson Lydia Amutenya said that they will in due course start with the surveying of these areas before the actual installation electrification process starts.

"Electricity will definitely come to them. It's just a matter of finalizing the preparatory process. It involves a lot of ground work in terms of mapping out and surveying the areas," she said.

Amutenya added that similar sub-stations will be also installed in other informal settlements namely, Otjomuise's Agste laan, Ongulumbashe, Okahandja Park and Kilimanjaro.

This has rekindled Kambonde's hope of expanding his business venture and better business prospective.

"This will bring an end to my food items getting spoiled, and will translate to improved profit margins," he said. Endit