Stefanus Nashama
Opposition parties such as the All Peoples’ Party (APP), the Body of Christ Party (BCP), the Congress of Democrats (CoD) and the National Empowerment Fighting Corruption (NEFC) raised concerns about obsolete water and sewage infrastructure in the country.
This comes after much of the country’s water and sewage infrastructure has been reported outdated.
Speaking to the Windhoek Observer on Monday, APP’s president Ambrosius Kumbwa said the issue has been ongoing for a long time and needs serious intervention.
“Much of these water and sewage infrastructure were constructed during colonial times, and as time goes they are getting old,” he said.
Kumbwa also mentioned that such infrastructure is made from asbestos and requires replacement with more modern material.
He accused the Swapo-led government of failing to resolve the issue.
Kumbwa said the APP government would establish a commission that would engage the local authorities and communities for recommendations to address the matter.
“We will have a commission that will go to local authorities and municipalities to conduct a study, and the recommendation will be given to Parliament for scrutiny on what to do to resolve the issue,” he emphasised.
He stated that APP’s government would engage and seek advice from current engineers.
Additionally, Kumbwa said his party’s leadership, if elected into power, will review the law on bilateral collaboration with other countries.
“We will look if our law allows for a bilateral agreement with other countries that are better than us on how to resolve such issue,” he stressed.
He noted untreated sewage in many towns in the country.
BCP leader Bishop Thomas Festus said water and sewage infrastructure remains a priority of the party’s manifesto.
“That issue has been a point of our advocacy,” he said.
Festus said his government would engage municipalities to implement new provisions that can address the matter.
“This includes coming up with the water metre affordable to the people. Water is life,” he mentioned.
He emphasised that without water, there is no dignity for the people.
“You cannot run sewage systems without water. You cannot have sanitation at all,” he said.
Festus further pointed out the issue of land, saying his government would resolve the land question.
He believes land is a pillar of the government.
“Water and sewage infrastructure is on land. If you do not have land available how can you manage to have that infrastructure,” he stated.
Festus blames the government for having not done much to resolve this issue.
He said water infrastructure has been reported outdated in almost all regions, leaving many communities without water.
Acting president of CoD, Vaino Amuthenu said the issue of sewage infrastructure sometimes comes with contractors.
“The job is given to friends who do not have the skills and knowledge to do the work. That is why you find such a situation because some of the sewage has been renovated many times,” he explained.
Amuthenu said the storage facilities for water in the country are very small and the pressure is not sufficient to pump water to all areas.
He, however, blamed the government for not having done a lot to address the water issue.
Kenneth Iilonga, president of the NEFC said sewage infrastructure in the country, especially in Walvis Bay has become outdated.
He claimed the Walvis Bay municipality shifted the blame on the house owners when the pipes in front of their house burst.
“I have been talking about this issue for so many times but no I do not see improvement,” he said.
Iilonga accused the municipality of not picking up calls regarding the matter.
On the issue of water, Iilonga said the government should construct a borehole and erect a big water tank in all villages.
“This is the only way we will resolve the issue of water,” he mentioned.
At the same time, Iilonga urged the government to build dams.
Last month, regional councillors in the north raised the same issue of ageing water infrastructure in the country.
They urged the government to prioritise the renovation and construction of more earth dams to ensure the issue of water is resolved.
