Martin Endjala
Acute water shortages are hitting more villages nationwide due to deteriorating critical infrastructure and poor maintenance.
Climate change and drought have exacerbated the situation in some areas.
However, in the Omusati region, where there is plenty of water, farmers have found themselves without it for months.
They say this has led to dying gardens.
Communal farmer Tarah Shaanika, who lives in the Etilyasa village of the Omusati region, expressed his frustration about the water crisis with the Windhoek Observer on Monday.
“Our plants are dead due to a lack of water. Why do I have a feeling that someone in Omusati’s rural water supply is sabotaging the water supply to our villages?” he questioned.
Shaanika has onions, tomatoes, a maize garden, and an orchard with over 100 fruit streets.
He has been getting water from the canal for his animals.
“We can’t do this for the garden because it’s not sustainable because we use fuel,” he said.
According to Shaanika, the issue has persisted for years and is always present from September to December, when it’s dry.
He believes the water crisis was politically motivated or sabotaged.
“Is it really difficult to sort out the water pressure challenges for three months? Perhaps I am overthinking,” he said.
Two years ago, he submitted a letter of agriculture to traditional authorities, but they had not yet granted permission to drill boreholes.
“I don’t understand why NamWater denies us the right to drill boreholes. I think there is a problem at NamWater. There is poor planning. They need to budget to upgrade the infrastructure and invest in earth dams, which will solve many problems,” he said.
The Windhoek Observer reported last month about low water pressure in the Okahao and Tsandi areas. Some villages experienced a two-month water shortage.
Namwater has attributed the matter to ageing pipelines and outdated systems.
To address this, the utility has ongoing programs across the country to upgrade its infrastructure to handle the high water demand.
Another resident, Ndapewa Lukas, said they have been without water in their village since March.
“This water issue is irritating this year in our village. Our taps have been dry from March up to date,” said Lukas.
Hilma Iyambo, another resident, said, “My whole garden is now gone. I really fail to understand. What’s going on?”
Another resident, Ngepathimo Kadhila, stated that the water situation in their area of Omusati is truly dire.
“Three good months without a single drop from taps. This has a spillover effect on our underground pipes. Since they have been running dry for too long, they are exposed to excessive heat,” said Kadhila.
Gardens, piggeries, and other farming projects have suffered as a result, according to Kadhila.
“We try digging wells, but our underground water is salty,” said Kadhila.
