The City of Windhoek has rejected calls for a municipal payment boycott, warning residents that failure to pay for water and electricity services could result in legal action, interest charges, and continued disconnections.

In a media statement issued on Friday, the City said its mass disconnection exercise targets municipal accounts in arrears for 30 days or more and is not intended to punish residents.

The City says its outstanding municipal debt currently stands at N$932.7 million, which it is seeking to recover through its approved credit control policy.

It maintains that customers who have entered into payment arrangements and continue to honour them will not be affected by the disconnections.

The city also warned that residents who deliberately withhold payments could face civil liability, while those who tamper with water meters, electricity infrastructure or illegally reconnect services could face criminal charges.

It further cautioned against encouraging or organising payment boycotts, saying such actions could have legal consequences.

The City says reduced revenue collection could affect its ability to maintain water and electricity infrastructure, repair sewer networks, remove refuse and sustain other essential municipal services.

Meanwhile, it says the council approved debt relief interventions amounting to N$724 million between 2023 and 2025, of which approximately N$383.9 million was written off as asset provisions.

The city has encouraged qualifying pensioners and orphaned and vulnerable households to approach its offices to establish whether they qualify for debt relief.