SORED Will Compromise Financial Revenue and Autonomy of Local Authorities
The proposed establishment of the Southern Regional Electricity Distributor (SORED) raises significant concerns regarding municipal autonomy, financial sustainability, and the future of service delivery in southern Namibia. While the creation of Regional Electricity Distributors (REDs) was a Cabinet policy decision, it does not imply that individual municipalities should relinquish their electricity distribution assets without adhering to the applicable legal procedures, obtaining proper council decisions, and considering the interests of their residents. Article 102(3) of the Namibian Constitution recognises the municipal council as the principal governing body of a local authority, and section 30(1)(f) of the Local Authorities Act of 1992