NamWater defends water pricing amid affordability concerns

Patience Makwele

NamWater has defended its pricing model, insisting it should not be blamed for rising water bills faced by consumers, as concerns grow over the affordability of water and increasing municipal charges across the country.

The state-owned water utility says its tariffs have remained unchanged since 2019 despite rising operational costs, arguing that increases reflected on household municipal accounts are largely the responsibility of local authorities rather than NamWater.

The issue came under the spotlight during discussions at the 2026 Africa Public Service Day in Swakopmund, where government officials and stakeholders debated how Namibia can improve access to affordable water and sanitation.