“You people are killing us!” – Karibib representative
The national electric power utility, NamPower, is requesting an electricity Nampower Seeks 8.4% Tariff Increasefrom the Electrical Control Board of Namibia (ECB).
The announcement was made on Wednesday at Swakopmund during the 2026/2027 NamPower Bulk Tariff Review & Stakeholder Consultations meeting. The meeting which took place at the Tamariskia Town Hall was attended by less than 20 people. Representatives of NamPower provided presentations, explaining the necessity of the proposed tariff increase, under the watchful eye of the ECB representatives, who indicated that they will scrutinise the presentation and discussions before the final decision will be announced during next month. During the questions and answers session, representatives of the Consumer Liasson Committees (CLC) of both Swakopmund and Karibib present at the meeting, strongly opposed the planned electricity tariff hike.
Mr Christiaan Nguherimo representing the Karibib Town Council as CLC member bluntly told the NamPower representatives, Mr Christo Visser and Ms Desdemona Lubinda that citizens simply will not be able to afford this proposed tariff increase and that NamPower is “killing the people.” He cited contributing factors like the high unemployment rate and the fact that annual salary increments don’t match up to the proposed 8.4% tariff hike. He urged NamPower to go back to the drawing board and consider the reality people on ground level is facing every day. “We simply cannot accept this proposed tariff increase,” Lubinda concluded.
Swakopmund CLC member, Gabriel Kornelius shared Lubinda’s sentiment, noting that the proposed increase tariff will contribute to more financial strain on ordinary households. He also proposed the introduction of a profit margin cap for regional electricity distributors. NamPower’s head of electricity pricing, Desdemona Lubinda, in response to the concerns raised, noted that NamPower does empathise with the situation, but explained that the utility (NamPower) also has obligations to honour, and that the utility must be sustained in order for citizens to have access to electricity.
During her presentation, Lubinda also emphasised the fact Nampower is facing an outstanding debt older than 90 days, averaging $700 million over the past six years. The public is invited to communicate their objections, inputs and comments to the Electrical Control Board via tariffs@ecb.org.na no later than 16 March 2026.
By Marshallino Beukes
