Martin Endjala
The long-awaited upgrade of the Outapi water purification plant is set to be upgraded at a cost of N$123.1 million.
On Tuesday, NamWater’s chief executive officer, Abraham Nehemia announced the launch of the upgrade of the treatment plant.
The current plant is reportedly unable to meet the town’s water demands.
NamWater and Jiangxi International, a Chinese contractor company, which has been active in Namibia for over 20 years, have signed an agreement to complete the project in 16 months.
“The water demand was becoming a problem for us in all the areas across the country. If you look at the northern-central part of the country, we don’t have sufficient water supply, and that’s the experience we have been going through countrywide,” said Nehemia.
He said this is why NamWater has been looking to address the water crisis with recent projects in various regions, with the two most recent being in Rundu and Oshakati, among others.
“If you look at the whole area of Ombalantu and surrounding areas, we have had serious problems with complaints coming from there, especially in September and October,” said Nehemia.
He stated that in response to these public outcries, Namwater deemed it essential to restore the plight and livelihoods of the people in the Omusati region.
Nehemia said that mobilization of finance, proper infrastructure, and development, in general, cannot exist without water.
“The treatment plant at Oshakati, Olushandja, Ogongo, and Outapi has become inadequate to the actual demand,” he reasoned.
Nehemia added that the Outapi project is necessary to expand or upgrade them all.
He said the project is part of its five-year strategic plan, in which for the past three years the water utility has been on a journey to revive and upgrade water plants across the country to address high water demands.
Erginus Endjala, Omusati region governor, welcomes the plant’s upgrade.
“This has been long in coming and I am happy it is finally here. This will enhance water capacity in terms of supply to the community,” he said.
Endjala stated that the community members often find it hard to get water due to the low pressure of the water, and sometimes they go without water.
“It is no longer going to be an issue to have a pipe with little or no water. But now it’s going to be, how can I pay for my water?” he argued.
The governor commended NamWater for bringing services close to the people and hearing their call.
However, Endjala pointed out that in order to accommodate communities travelling long distances to fetch water, Ogongo and other areas also need attention.
Saltiel Shaanika, the acting chief engineer at NamWater, confirmed that the bulk water company is committed to fulfilling its mandate by providing water services to all Namibians in the country.
To date, NamWater has completed projects worth over N$1 billion.
This was possible following a successful loan of N$1.8 billion that Namibia obtained from the African Development Bank to address the current water crisis.
