RUNDU – Kavango East governor Bonifatius Wakudumo last week called for the Rundu Town Council to be assisted by the line ministry to connect urban schools to the town’s sewer network.
He said it is not ideal to have schools using septic tanks.
Wakudumo made these remarks while visiting the Ndama Junior Primary School recently.
The governor requested the Rundu Town Council and the Ministry of Urban and Rural Development to develop sewer lines. The lack of sewer connections is hampering schools from delivering quality education, and it’s costly to pump these tanks weekly.
“I would agree to have septic tanks in rural areas, but not in town,” Wakudumo stressed.
Urban and Rural Development minister Erastus Uutoni visited Rundu last Thursday to discuss town council issues about water and sewer provision. The minister visited the affected school, Ndama Primary, to assess their clean water and sewer challenges.
There, it was said the school should no longer operate using a septic tank, and that an immediate solution should be made to connect the school to the town’s sewer line. In Rundu, there are more than 10 schools connected to septic tanks, and it is constantly costing the directorate of education a lot of money to empty them on a regular basis.
Recently, the Ndama school was temporarily closed by the authorities as it was not fit to operate as their septic tank was overflowing, and there was also a shortage of water. So, hygiene was an issue at the school.
“I just invited you all in the sector of urban and rural development because all of us are entrusted with heavy responsibilities. We are saying, and have committed ourselves, that no matter how tough it is, we need to move forward. Nothing can hinder us on our destination. I heard an outcry that was so strong that it cannot be ignored, so I said, let’s come together and reorganise our forces to see how we can defeat the enemy. The enemy is trying to block our way to victory, which is to have development that is satisfying our community,” Uutoni said.
“I remember in 2022 when we had a water crisis in Ndama, and we had to ask NamWater to boost the pump station so that the water could reach the community at Ndama; they did that. We realised that the community is so big, and that is when as a ministry, we came in to rescue with N$4 million,’’ he continued.
Uutoni said despite previous efforts, another outcry is being experienced again now.
The minister said he was in Rundu to see what was happening, and what could be done. He brought a technical person along, who can assist in identifying how things can be rectified.
“Money should be organised immediately to have our people supplied with water. Before I left, I spoke to the minister of finance. I said to him, I am going to Rundu. You have heard about the water crisis. Be ready if the situation dictates that we have to supply them with water. He is ready; it’s only us who have to work out the modalities. We want to focus on a specific area, which is Ndama, but as the town council, you also need to put in efforts,’’ Uutoni told those responsible.
“The easiest way for us is to drill boreholes. 21 sites were identified by experts from the ministry of agriculture, and it was certified that we must drill at these specified areas, and the water shortages will be resolved. Currently, we are stuck on finance, but we believe that with your ministry, honourable Uutoni, as you are engaging with other ministries, we are so happy that this matter will be resolved,” said Rundu mayor Gabriel Kanyanga.
He added that these boreholes would not only be drilled in Ndama, but also in other areas affected by the lack of water.