Allexer Namundjembo
The ministry of agriculture, fisheries, water and land reform spokesperson Romeo Muyunda has said that it is not responsible for deciding which schools receive boreholes, saying the selection of beneficiary schools and priority areas rests solely with the ministry of education, innovation, youth, sport, arts and culture (MEIYSAC).
He was responding to questions from the Windhoek Observer on whether schools already connected to water supply systems would also be equipped with boreholes where necessary, and which regions would be prioritised under the programme.
Muyunda said borehole drilling at schools is funded through MEIYSAC’s budget, while the agriculture ministry provides technical support during implementation.
“The education ministry identifies which schools will receive funding, while our ministry oversees the coordination of all operations,” Muyunda said.
He explained that the ministry’s responsibilities include planning specifications, tender evaluation, borehole site selection, supervision of drilling activities, project management and issuing technical recommendations.
Muyunda also added that the ministry does not determine where investments are made.
“The ministry does not select the schools or the area of investment. This mandate rests with MEIYSAC,” he said.
The clarification comes after education minister Sanet Steenkamp said the provision of water to schools is fundamentally a rural development responsibility that should be handled through regional councils, although her ministry continues to intervene where necessary.
Speaking to the Windhoek Observer earlier late last month, Steenkamp said the education ministry has taken on part of the responsibility because schools fall under its mandate, but maintained that rural water supply structures should ultimately provide water to schools.
“The provision of water is, in essence, a rural development issue and must be discussed under the regional council. Education has taken over the role because schools are directly under the ministry,” she said.
Steenkamp said the ministry has drilled boreholes and connected schools to community water infrastructure where feasible, while also investing in water tankers in regions facing persistent water shortages.
“There are specifically some regions such as Oshikoto where the ministry has invested in water tankers. The water tankers are filled with water and they go to schools that have water tanks,” she said.
Her remarks followed calls by the National African Students’Association (NASA) for urgent government intervention to address water shortages at Satotwa Primary School in the Kavango West Region and Otjozondu Primary School in the Otjozondjupa Region.
NASA has also urged the government to conduct a nationwide assessment of schools facing similar challenges and prioritise investment in water infrastructure.
