An incomplete health centre that was abandoned by a contractor at Okondjatu settlement some 12 years ago, along with many other major unfinished capital projects in the region, has Otjozondjupa governor John ||Khamuseb hot under the collar. 

During his meeting with the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Gender Equality, Health and Social Welfare this week at Otjiwarongo, ||Khamuseb said it is high time for the government, through its various ministries and agencies, to impose hefty penalties on contractors who fail to complete State-funded projects within the agreed timelines and stipulated budgets. If need be, ||Khamuseb insisted, the government should individually pursue such rogue contractors, through all available legal channels, as their [contractors] deceitful deeds deprive Namibians of much-needed basic services and, in turn, put the government in a bad spotlight. 

“The Okondjatu healthcare centre has remained incomplete for more than 12 years now. The prolonged delay has deprived the community and surrounding areas of essential health services, and it continues to burden nearby facilities. 

“The same in Tsumkwe, where sewage ponds are not properly functioning because of incomplete work by contractors. Despite existing sewerage infrastructure, the waste does not reach the designated point,” said ||Khamuseb. 

The parliamentary committee’s chairperson, Nono Katjingisiua, concurred with ||Khamuseb that the government will have to change its approach and tactics when it comes to holding cunning contractors accountable. Initially set to be constructed for an amount of N$9.9 million, the tender for the Okondjatu health centre was advertised and awarded in 2012. The envisaged Okondjatu health centre was to comprise a modern pharmacy, doctors’ and nurses’ consulting rooms, shades for patients awaiting treatment and additional benches to accommodate more patients. 

The Okondjatu health centre was earmarked for completion in February 2014. 

However, after securing the N$10 million tender, the contractor abandoned the site along with the workers after having only done about 30% of the work. 

The current clinic, which caters to hundreds of vulnerable residents, has limited capacity, lacks adequate consulting rooms and has no pharmacy. 

Due to the continuous lack of infrastructure and human capital capacity at the current clinic, residents are forced to travel over 100 kilometres to the Okakarara hospital to receive decent health services. 

Disruptions 

What angers ||Khamuseb the most is the fact that the dormant, incomplete and nonfunctional health projects have left thousands of the region’s inhabitants stranded with not many alternatives to basic health provision. At Tsumkwe, in the Otjozondjupa region, water crises and blocked sewage continue to affect the settlement’s clinic, schools and residential homes due to shoddy work by contractors. “Instead, wastewater flows openly through residential areas, and animals drink from the contaminated water. The situation poses severe public health and environmental risks, and requires urgent intervention, said the governor. 

“Equally, the Coblenz sewerage pump station project remains incomplete and non-operational, rendering the broader system ineffective and worsening sanitation challenges. Sewerage systems in many of our towns and villages are overwhelmed because you have infrastructure that was designed for 5 000 people now serving over 40 000 people,” ||Khamuseb said. 

Intervention 

Katjingisiua took note of the governor’s remarks and agreed that internal government monitoring and evaluation systems need to be strengthened. 

She said State-funded capital projects, including weak contract management, poor supervision and a lack of accountability, cannot continue to be excuses for depriving residents of basic services. “Our aim and objective through parliamentary oversight visits is to scrutinise whether government policies, programmes and projects have been implemented and achieved their desired impact. 

“I heard the governor talking about those not finalising tenders on time. I want to promise here that the situation will be inspected, monitored, enquired into and reported back to the Parliament,” said Katjingisiua. -ohembapu@nepc.com.na