Belinda Kulatau

RUNDU – Community members of Havo village in the Mukwe constituency say they are tired of the continuous water crisis in the area.

It is a situation they say has worsened over the past four years, resulting in the loss of livestock and threatening their livelihoods.

They claim the water tanks are over 30 years old, weary and unable to function properly, forcing them to walk to Dikundu, a village situated 6 km away, to collect water.

The Department of Rural Water Supply in the Kavango East region had initially installed three boreholes more than three decades ago, but to date, only one of them works.

Upon being informed about the water challenges, they responded to the villagers’ call in 2025 by identifying a new location for the construction of a new borehole. The villagers claim that, after the new location was identified, they never heard from them again.

Community member Kakoshi Erastus said, “Out of the three water tanks that were installed in the past, only one of them is still functioning, but it’s also faulty and unable to hold water for more than 24 hours.”

He added, “These water tanks are useless; they are just here for decoration, because only one of them works, but even the one that is supposed to work is empty right now, and even if it gets some water, it dries out quickly, so if we are not nearby to notice, the water finishes, leaving us with nothing again. How are we supposed to survive? Now we are forced to choose between ourselves and our livestock. What do we do now?”

Havo Junior Primary School teacher Kawina Dinyando also shared his disappointment with the relevant leaders for not treating the situation as a matter of urgency, noting that the water crisis has greatly disrupted learning for the 26 pupils at the school.

“On several occasions, I have been forced to close the school because the children do not have access to potable drinking water. I have tried preserving water and bringing it in a bucket to give to the learners, but when it finishes, my hands are tied. The water crisis is very bad this side,” said Dinyando.

Contacted for comment on the matter, newly elected Mukwe constituency councillor Augusta Katembo said she is aware of the situation and that the delay is due to pending lab results. The results, she said, will determine if the water at the identified new location is fit for human consumption.

“My office is aware of the water crisis at Havo village. I have been in contact with the Department of Rural Water Supply. They are ready to proceed with the drilling of the new borehole. The tender to do that will be advertised as soon as the lab results come back. For now, I’m pleading with them to remain patient while the issue is being solved,” she said.

*Belinda Kulatau is an Information Officer at MICT in Kavango East.