Zebaldt Ngaruka

OVITUUA – The wind of change is sweeping across Ovituua village after the government, through the Epukiro constituency office, rehabilitated the borehole recently.

For the past few years, Ovituua’s water level has dropped drastically and that has put pressure on the villagers to use water for themselves and livestock.

Fanuel Tjomi Kauami, the chairperson of the village’s waterpoint committee, said the rehabilitated borehole came at the right time as the struggle was an uphill one.

“We are relieved, we suffered for long. This rehabilitated borehole will bring normality to this village. Our living conditions will improve and there will be no more water tensions among the inhabitants,” he said.

Kauami added that the community who are predominantly cattle farmers, will now commence with backyard gardens to produce their own food.

“These backyard gardens are part of the government’s call for self-sustenance. We also have a bricklaying project that required a lot of water and it was not progressing due to the scarcity of water,” said Kauami.

On whether the water will be pumped to homesteads, the chairperson said it is impossible at the moment as they have to assess the water volume first.

“It is early, we will only allow villagers to collect water from the water point first until such time of crossing the bridge to allow residents to connect water pipes to the system is reached,” he responded.

He urges residents to take good care of the facilities, saying that it was not easy to acquire them.

“It was a mountain to climb and we have to thank our constituency councillor, Pineal Packy Pakarae, for his efforts. We really appreciate his tireless efforts in solving the issue,” he said.

Asnath Katjikaru Hoveka, one of the village’s traditional councillors welcomed the initiative and urged the community to take care of the properties.

“We know our struggles very well, and we have to use our water sparingly,” she said.

Hoveka added that the village women and the youth will now build gardens that will sustain the local people.

“We have the San community and surrounding schools that may need our produce. We must stand up and work now,” urged the traditional councillor.

Pakarae on his part said water supply to the community is one of the constituency’s key priorities of service delivery, saying that the government have drilled 34 boreholes, of which 27 were successful.

“We, together with our stakeholders, will continue to work hard in achieving our goals. Ovituua is one of the testimonies of our goal,” he said.

Pakarae added that there are several villages already assessed and listed for either drilling, installation or cleaning etc.

In terms of bulk water supply to Epukiro Post 3 settlement, the Swapo councillor said within a week, his office is expecting a final  report on the drilled boreholes and construction of water infrastructure from NamWater.

“We will share this important information with the community,” he said.

-zngaruka@gmail.com