Windhoek
Following a range of consultative meetings between central government, and Namwater, Bukalo Village Council – which has over the years been using brackish borehole water previously declared unfit for human consumption – will soon have access to clean, potable water.
This situation will see residents fork out more on water tariffs once Phase Two of the Bukalo-Ngoma project has been completed.
Speaking to New Era on Tuesday, Bukalo’s chief executive officer, Martin Limbo, confirmed that Phase Two will soon commence, which will bring relief to more than 9 000 residents who have in recent years been surviving on brackish borehole water.
“Bukalo residents were using boreholes all along. The water is undrinkable and it was affecting us. We were feeding residents with poisonous water and we were losing a lot of money, since we couldn’t even increase water tariffs,” Limbo said.
Once Phase Two has been completed, he said residents would be able to venture into several businesses, such as car-washes – unlike in the past when water constraints limited business prospects.
According to him, fruitful discussions took place on Monday between the village council, Namwater and the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Forestry to provide potable water to Bukalo.
The meeting came after the village council wrote to Minister of Agriculture, Water and Forestry John Mutorwa in May last year requesting him to connect Bukalo to Ngoma, as part of Phase Two. It is expected that the tender for Phase Two will be out by March.
“We said we can no longer be suffering like this while clean water pipes pass by us. The minister then agreed to connect us to Phase Two, due to the developmental programmes we are undertaking, such as housing, [as well as setting up] a university and a school,” Limbo noted.
Further, he said the current Namwater treatment plant, which was drawing water from the boreholes would also be decommissioned as treated water will in future be pumped from Katima Mulilo.
Phase One was completed last year at a cost of approximately N$35 million, while Phase Two (from Bukalo-Ngoma), as well as Phase Three and Four (from Bukalo-Kabbe and Bukalo-Muyako-Ibbu-Mutikitila) are expected to commence later this year.