Wayambekange N Hamufenhu
A house without a toilet is, by all definitions, incomplete. Sanitation is not a luxury, it is a human right. It upholds human dignity, protects our health, and provides personal safety. Without proper toilets, people are forced to live in conditions that are both undignified and dangerous.
In our beloved Land of the Brave, compared to other sectors such as education, infrastructure, healthcare, and governance, progress has been made. However, sanitation continues to lag. Yet, sanitation is a silent crisis that affects hundreds of thousands, particularly in rural villages and informal settlements.
The 2023 Namibian Census report paints a concerning picture. Out of 342 220 households in rural areas, 218 336 do not have any form of toilet facility. In urban areas, 84 066 out of 414 119 households also lack toilets. These numbers are more than statistics, they reflect lives lived without privacy, health security, or safety.
It is especially shocking that many of these households, even some with large and well-built homes, still practice open defecation due to the absence of sanitation facilities. In informal settlements, residents are often forced to resort to “flying toilets”, defecating in plastic bags and discarding them, or walking long distances at night to relieve themselves in riverbeds or bushes, which exposes them to serious risks, such as snake bites, physical assault, and other forms of violence.
We must understand that access to a toilet is more than just a construction issue. It is a fundamental part of what makes a house a home. It is a symbol of equity and social justice. It is about giving every Namibian, regardless of income or location, the dignity they deserve.
Namibia stands at a critical juncture. Without urgent and coordinated action, we risk falling short of our commitment to Sustainable Development Goal 6, “ensuring access to water and sanitation for all by 2030”. But the good news is that the government has already recognized sanitation as a national development priority. The political will is there. Now, we must ensure that these plans do not remain promises on paper. We must walk the talk
It is not just about the government alone, but it is also up to us as citizens to get involved, whether through community projects, awareness campaigns, or demanding action from our leaders. This is a shared responsibility. We must build partnerships between communities, government, and private stakeholders to fast-track sanitation solutions that are affordable, sustainable, and inclusive
We are too few to live undignified lives and die from preventable diseases. Our numbers are small, but our spirit is mighty. We cannot afford to leave anyone behind, not in a country where we speak of unity, liberty, and justice.
Let us turn houses into homes. Let every person in every corner of Namibia have access to something as basic and essential as a toilet. Together, we can. Let us act now, not tomorrow, not next year, but now. We have the power to build the Namibia we all aspire to. A Namibia of dignity. A Namibia of health. A Namibia for all.
Wayambekange N Hamufenhu is a Pan-African Sanitation Advocate, writing in her capacity as a Namibian
