The Omaheke Regional Council said a contractor, appointed to drill, install and rehabilitate boreholes in the region as part of government’s drought intervention, is making progress and has been given until end of August to finish the work. The contractor has, so far, drilled eight boreholes out of the envisaged 28 boreholes, while 20 boreholes have been rehabilitated. 

In an interview with New Era yesterday, council spokesperson Tauno Iileka said the council has compelled the contractor to obtain a second drilling rig to speed up the process and ensure timely completion. 

“An in-house engineer from the technical services division has been added to the project to manage the contract with Northend Solar Solutions – to strictly ensure they deliver the services they were contracted to complete by end of August,” Iileka noted. 

A technician from the regional water supply directorate has also been roped in to confirm work being performed by the contractor. Iileka said the council has taken note of the standing committee’s appeal for regular updates, saying the in-house engineer will have meetings with the contractor every second week to ensure there is progress. 

The controversial payment of N$4.9 million to the contractor was again brought to the attention of the National Council Standing Committee on Habitat during its oversight visit to the region last week Wednesday. 

Iileka said the regional council’s internal auditors have presented a preliminary report to the management committee on its findings regarding the issue of the advanced payments made to the contractor. 

Based on this report, the management committee has requested additional information on some issues that require clarity, including written statements from the staff members involved. 

“Therefore, the final report is expected to be presented to the council next week, upon which the council will take action. Because staff members are implicated, the council exercises due diligence and must take proper action to avoid unfair labour practices. This report will also be submitted to the prime minister to provide feedback,” Iileka added.  He assured these internal investigations would not affect the implementation of the project, as the contractor is making progress on site.
The drought relief intervention programme targeted 13 regions across the country for the provision of water, rehabilitation and drilling of boreholes that was aimed at alleviating the plight of communities severely affected by the drought situation across the country for the past years.

– nakale@nepc.com.na