Martin Endjala
Residents at Elavi B village in the Nehale Lya Mpingana constituency in the Oshikoto Region are facing a water crisis because they are now competing with their livestock for the little water left in a single well.
Silas Henock, a community member, narrated the water shortages, saying that since the constituency’s existence, the Elavi B residents have been surviving on only one well for water.
Henock, however, said that the residents now fear that the water will not last until November if it does not rain and is calling on the government to drill a borehole and put up a water pump in the area.
“Since last year, we have had very little rainfall. Our livestock herd is large, and they require water. When we take out water for human consumption, in many cases, our cattle are left with nothing because the water is just not enough and some of the animals have already died,” he said.
He stated that acute shortages force people to drink saline and dirty water.
Henock acknowledged that some areas in the constituency have water security, but that the sad part is that Elavi B is still in dire need and cannot wait for tomorrow.
“We have written letters to our leaders in the region and constituency, but until now, nothing has happened. Some of our neighbouring villages are far better off than us. We seriously need help with our water shortages,” said Henock.
Henock suggests at least two boreholes be drilled in Elavi B to sustain the livelihoods of the residents and their livestock, or to rehabilitate a borehole he said was set up in the area a few years ago but is not being used. The reason for it not being used is unknown.
He is calling on the relevant authority to assess it and see how best the situation can be resolved, adding that it will greatly help the community.
Phone calls to the Oshikoto governor, Penda ya Ndakolo, on the matter went unanswered, but he replied via text that he was in a meeting.
In 2022, the governor revealed that the Rural Water Supply Division drilled boreholes at the Nehale Lya Mpingana Constituency to address water shortages.
The division installed pumps on seven out of the 13 boreholes that were drilled at a cost of N$1.9 million.
The Division also rehabilitated two boreholes, which cost N$621 000 and now provide clean and safe drinking water for household use and animal consumption.
He added that some of the drilled boreholes turned out to have saline water, thus making them unfit for human consumption.
In addition, the Oshikoto Regional Council has constructed three water pipelines, the Ndinelago Elwatha pipeline in Olukonda constituency, the Egolo Amikoka pipeline in Okankolo constituency, and the Onangolo B pipeline in Eengodi constituency, at a cost of over N$800 000.
The Namibian Environmental Investment Fund provided a grant for the upgrade of the Amutenya GwaNuutumbo and Omtala GwaNuule Earth Dams, which cost over N$2.2 million.
