Some residents of Extension 5 in Ondangwa have vacated their homes, while others are struggling with sewage water flooding their properties as the wall of a vandalised sewer pond broke.
The Oluno Correctional Facility has likewise been partially affected, with parts of its yard inundated with sewage water.
The Ondangwa Town Council stated that residents vandalised the pond wall to gain access to fish by allowing water to flow out after heavy rains caused the pond to overflow.
The pond was originally designed to collect household sewage when toilets are flushed.
Ondangwa chief executive officer Ismael Namugongo acknowledged that the sewer pond issue has been ongoing for years.
The town council has thus been working on plans to modernise the system by constructing a proper sewage treatment plant.
“For a long-term solution, we will need about N$200 million to construct a sewer treatment plant. Since our financial capacity cannot cater for this project, we have requested assistance from the Ministry of Rural and Urban Development. However, this is a long-term plan that will take at least three years to complete,” he noted.
Namugongo said once the plant is constructed, household sewage will be treated before being discharged, resolving the current issue. In the meantime, the council has reinforced the embankment of the sewer pond, bringing the situation under control.
Council spokesperson Petrina Shitalangaho-Mutikisha confirmed that two streets in Extension 5 have been affected.
Some residents have moved out, while others remain, depending on the severity of the flooding in their homes.
“The situation is now under control, and the council will ensure that the affected areas are cleaned up,” she assured.
The town’s spokesperson also apologised to residents, stating that the flooding was a result of natural causes rather than human negligence.
“The council is working on a permanent solution to safeguard residents and prevent further vandalism. We call on community members to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity,” Shitalangaho-Mutikisha urged.
Longtime Ondangwa resident Simeon Mwatotele expressed frustration over the recurring issue. “As human beings, how can we live in houses flooded with sewage water? This is something the council should have resolved long ago,” he stressed.
Mwatotele said he has temporarily moved out, and is renting accommodation elsewhere until the situation improves.