Niël Terblanché
In a concerning trend that is negatively impacting the livelihood of rural communities, the Okongo Constituency has become the latest victim of a series of water pump thefts, threatening the water supply to several communities and prompting a call for action from local and national officials.
Councillor Efraim Shipindo, issued a stern warning against the ongoing theft of community water pumps, incidents that have seen a significant rise, with 13 pumps stolen since last year.
He said the recent thefts from boreholes at the Okamanya, Onheleiwa, and Okanyanona villages have formed a troubling pattern that costs the government millions of dollars in replacements and leaves communities in dire straits.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform has echoed Shipindo’s concerns, with spokesperson Jona Musheko condemning these acts, particularly rampant in the north and north-central regions.
He said that these crimes not only result in financial strain on government resources but also severely disrupt the ministry’s objective to ensure a consistent water supply in rural areas.
With the stolen water pumps and solar panels to power them gone, affected communities face immediate water shortages that could lead to life-threatening situations for both people and their domesticated animals.
According to Musheko, the crisis is exacerbated by the suspicion that the stolen water pumps are smuggled into neighbouring Angola or sold illicitly to private farms, complicating efforts to track and recover these vital resources.
The loss of these pumps is not just a financial burden but a significant setback to the government’s efforts to improve service delivery and ensure the well-being of its citizens.
In response to this escalating issue, the Minister of Agriculture, Water, and Land Reform, Calle Schlettwein, last year made an ardent plea to communities to help expose those responsible for these thefts.
At the time Schlettwein said that the ministry’s challenge is twofold: managing limited financial resources and addressing the immediate aftermath of thefts that leave communities without essential water supply.
The ministry and local officials are urging communities to be more vigilant, safeguarding the facilities that sustain them and reporting any suspicious activities to the authorities.
Officials said that community cooperation and vigilance are paramount in combating the theft of water pumps.
The collective effort to protect these resources is not just about preventing financial loss but also ensuring the survival and prosperity of rural communities facing the threat of water scarcity.
The government is, however, committed to replacing stolen equipment and enhancing security measures around water facilities.cording to Musheko, the emphasis is on crime prevention, community engagement, and swift reporting to prevent further losses.
He added that the role of communities in safeguarding their water supply has never been more critical.
