RUNDU – The government, through NamWater, commenced on Monday with the N$665 million conventional water purification plant at Rundu.

The project, once completed, is expected to iron out potable water scarcity issues not only in Rundu, but also in areas outside the town’s boundaries.

The project will also take water 10km to Mupini village along the Rundu-Nkurenkuru highway and 10km along the Rundu-Grootfontein road to Masivi village in the Kavango West region, as well as 10km east of Rundu at Kayengona village in the Kavango East.

“Today, we mark a pivotal moment in our shared journey towards water security, resilience, and progress… This project symbolises a critical step forward in our commitment to ensuring sustainable water supply and supporting the socio-economic development of the Kavango East and Kavango West regions,” said water minister Calle Schlettwein during the groundbreaking ceremony.

At present, both the water treatment plants at Rundu and the Nkarapamwe schemes are direct filtration systems, and the total capacity of these schemes is about 840 cubic metres per hour. 

 “Supplying water to Rundu town and its suburbs in adequate amounts and of acceptable quality has increasingly become a major concern and a huge challenge. The existing scheme is old and currently running at maximum capacity. Its capacity to supply quality potable water may be compromised. Importantly, the water distribution network of Rundu loses almost 50% of the water through leakages, making the system highly insufficient and costly,” he said.

Schlettwein stated that for a long time, calls have been made and plans have been designed on how the communities in these two regions can get access to potable water from the Okavango River without risking their lives to crocodiles or hippo attacks. 

“Water is not merely a resource; it is the bedrock of life, and the fundamental pillar of human civilisation. From ancient times to the modern era, access to water has been a determinant of prosperity and progress,” he stated.

“Here in Rundu, the Okavango River has been a lifeline, sustaining our communities and nurturing our environment. Yet, as we all know, the raw water from the river is not safe for consumption and requires rigorous treatment to meet international standards,’’ the minister said.

At the same event, NamWater CEO Abraham Nehemia said the project is a collaborative effort between the government of Namibia and the African Development Bank, aiming at enhancing water supply infrastructure and ensuring sustainable access to quality water for the town of Rundu, and eventually other small towns and surrounding rural communities in the two Kavango regions. 

NamWater is responsible for the project management and execution. “It is a known fact that NamWater was established by an Act of Parliament as a commercial entity with public interest and operates on the full cost-recovery principle, so that it recovers the cost associated with its capital investment as well as its operational cost, to ensure the availability of funds for further development of new infrastructure for those who are not served yet,” he stated.

Meanwhile, Rundu mayor Gabriel Kanyanga welcomed the project, saying it will solve the current water woes once it is completed.

“The groundbreaking came at the right time when Rundu’s population is skyrocketing due to the rapid urban migration, increasing the demand for potable water,’’ said the mayor.  -jmuyamba@nepc.com.na