Water, electricity tariffs double in Sudan’s capital

On Sunday Khartoum state announced an increase in the water tariff by 100 percent, to be implemented after the service has been restored.

The announcement came less than 24 hours after the news of a proposed 100 percent increase in the electricity price.

“It is more than clear that this government will never serve the people,” said Sarah Nugdallah, secretary-general of the National Umma Party (NUP).

“It is ridiculous to have a 100 percent rise in the price of water in an area located between two rivers,” she told Radio Dabanga.

Electricity

Nugdallah expects the national parliament to approve the increase: “The MPs were elected in a rigged election. They do not care for what happens to the people,” she said. “Nobody moved when continuous power cuts complicated life during the fasting month of Ramadan.”

She ridiculed the authorities who said that the purpose of the tariff increase is to reduce waste electricity and that the increase will be imposed on “the rich” only. “I wonder how they will separate the poor from the rich. It just means that the poor will not be able to pay for electricity anymore.”

The opposition leader called on the Sudanese to “express their rejection of the expected increase in the water and electricity tariffs by all peaceful means. They could boycott the use of electricity for one day for example,” she said.

Water shortage

A resident of the popular El Deim district in central Khartoum told Radio Dabanga that although he has paid the billseach month, the provision of water and electricity is lacking.

“At night, when the use of water is less, we are able to fill a barrel with water, only when we use a private pump. Very regularly, we have to wait half the night for the water to come, often to no avail.”

He complained that because of the ongoing water shortage, the commercial price of a barrel of water in the capital’s suburbs has risen to SDG70 ($12).

Regarding the government’s claim that the electricity tariff increase will be imposed on “the rich only”, he said that the poor do not use many devices that consume electricity. “Air conditioners consume much more electricity than radios and televisions.”