Hilma Hashange
OMUTHIYA – Residents from more than 40 communities in the Oshikoto region are demanding potable water.
A group of about 120 residents from different villages, held a peaceful demonstration in Omuthiya on Wednesday and handed over a petition to regional governor Penda ya Ndakolo.
Chief regional officer of the Oshikoto regional council, Christella Mwenya received the document on behalf of the governor.
In the petition, the villagers said they have been experiencing a serious water crisis since independence, with some constituencies such as Eengodi, Okankolo, Nehale lyaMpingana, and Omuthiya worse affected than others.
According to them, the government promised to upgrade water pipelines from Ondangwa to Omutsegonime, Omutsegonime to Oshivelo, and Omundaungilo to Omutsegonime, in 2017 but to no avail.
“This year the situation has worsened, and we are left with no alternatives since all the water sources which we have been depending on no longer have the capacity to sustain our needs and some have been exhausted. Most of the inhabitants are now dependent on water from hand-dug wells that is saltier than the oceans, which is a dangerous method due to cave-ins and contamination,” read the petition.
The demonstrators stated that the water scarcity in the region is impacting the education of their children as they spend most of the time searching for water. The demonstrators also added that absenteeism at schools has risen as pupils now choose fetching water over attending classes, while some go to school without eating and bathing for days.
“Those learners who manage to attend classes cannot concentrate as there is no drinking water at school. Learners do not get time to study anymore, and this may affect their performance,” the demonstrators stated.
The villagers have now resorted to buying water from Omuthiya, which they say costs them a lot, especially if they have to travel long distances to buy the commodity. According to sources, a 25-litre container of water costs N$5 but villagers have to fork out N$40 for transport for each container, bringing to cost to N$45 for a 25-litre container.
The petitioners alleged that the water tankers that used to deliver clean water to their villages no longer do so.
Governor Ya Ndakolo has since written to the agriculture, water, and land reform minister, Calle Schlettwein to consider the concerns of the petitioners.
*Hilma Hashange is an information officer for MICT in Oshikoto region.