By Nuusita Ashipala
OKAHAO – Businessman David Kambwa Sheehama of Kambwa Trading CC has brushed off allegations that he is sabotaging the community’s attempt to ease the flow of floodwater from their village.
Sheehama stands accused of blocking floodwater from flowing from Uukwananghanda village that is heavily flooded after heavy rainfall in parts of the Omusati Region, consequently flooding villages such as Okanya and Uutota, all in Okahao Constituency.
Sheehama argued that his motive was not to block the water, as presumed, but to find a way to prevent the floodwater from flowing over the road, thereby protecting the road from being washed away by the gushing water.
He said part of the plan was to add two culverts to the three that are already at the bridge, which he constructed for the community a few years back.
“That is not true, I put up the road and the three bridges at my own cost for the community; I was just trying to protect the road from being washed away,” the prominent businessman said, adding that it is less costly to protect the road from the torrent than to build a new one.
Last Sunday, Sheehama accused some community members and the councillor of Okahao Constituency, Isai Kapenambili, of trying to ruin the road.
He further accused the councillor of being hard-headed and unco-operative, saying he failed to meet him half way in tackling the issue at hand to assist the community cut off by water from accessing the town.
“I have tried calling him, but he keeps cutting my calls. I think he has personal issues against me. Now they are accusing me of blocking the water because I have a business in the area. The sand from my business benefits Namibian roads and the community, it is not for Kambwa,” he fumed.
Sheehama further accused the councillor of creating more problems than finding solutions.
“Now that they have apparently created a marked area to cross, people are still finding it hard to cross and are using tree branches as pokers to get them through the water, is that really a solution?” questioned Sheehama.
However, Kapenambili dismissed the allegation that he was part of a group of people who created the crossing area that Sunday evening.
The councillor also dismissed as lies Sheehama’s assertion that his intention was to add to the culverts.
“When was he going to do it? It’s not true, it rained on January 23; what was he doing all that time?” questioned Kapenambili.
He further indicated that this is not the ideal time to work on a bridge, “that is work that people do in June and July there”.
Kapenambili said if Sheehama wants to claim ownership of the work done on the road, he should provide documents as proof and [not] by word of mouth.
Meanwhile, the councillor could not reveal how many households were affected by floods so far, and ironically asked why this writer did not visit the area to count the households affected.
He also revealed that there are no strategies in place to assist the flood victims, especially those that have relocated to shacks or whose silos have been destroyed by the rain.
“The level of the water is going down; there is really no problem there. The water situation is not new in that area. We crossed water in that area since we were young,” said Kapenambili.