ONGWEDIVA – Residents of Omusati Region say the plan to drill 10 boreholes in the region are still to be realised.
Early this year Minister of Agriculture, Water and Forestry, John Mutorwa, announced that close to N$700 million would be invested in acquiring drilling rigs, extending pipelines and providing maintenance on existing boreholes in all parts of the country. The intervention followed the declaration of a state of emergency on the current drought by President Hifikepunye Pohamba on May 20.
In line with the decision, government also set aside N$50 million that will specifically be used to assist communal and commercial farmers to lease grazing, transport and other marketing incentives to overcome the effects of the drought.
Omusati Region received N$11. 4 million for the same purposes, while Kunene, which is one of the regions most affected by the drought, will be covered with a sum of N$11 million. The plans were that the ministry would complete the drilling and installation of the Kunene boreholes by August 15.
At least N$5.5 million has been allocated to the Otjozondjupa Region, while in the Omaheke Region, the drilling and installation of seven boreholes took place in May this year. Only three more boreholes need to be drilled and N$3.7 million will be used for that purpose.
A total of 17 boreholes as well as water infrastructure rehabilitation will take place in the Hardap Region at a cost of N$11 million, while in the Karas Region, about N$24 million will be spent for the drilling of 38 boreholes and water infrastructure rehabilitation.
The Oshana Region will get eight pipeline extensions at a cost of N$2.6 million. But residents say the boreholes drilled so far are not working and they are thirsty.
Some of the constituency councillors also confirmed that in their constituency no boreholes were drilled and they do not know when the programme will start.
The two councillors that spoke to New Era on condition of anonymity said there is no water in their constituencies and the constituencies are not even on the list of those getting boreholes.
“So far our people are sharing water with animals which is not a good thing and some are walking very long distances to go fetch water, yet it is taking months just to drill boreholes,” said one councillor.
Approached for comment, the Omusati Regional Governor Sophia Shaningwa said that so far four boreholes have been successfully drilled in two constituencies. Two are in Tsandi constituency and two in Ruacana constituency.
However, the governor could not really confirm whether the boreholes drilled so far are operating but just mentioned that contractors are busy with drilling boreholes in the area.
By Loide Jason