Lahja Nashuuta

THE Khomas Regional Council is geared up to execute the much-awaited water supply and sanitation programmes earmarked for Windhoek’s rural areas, chairperson Shaalukeni John Moonde has announced.

Addressing the first regional council meeting on Friday, he pointed out that access to safe and affordable water and appropriate sanitation in the rural areas, as well as upgrading school infrastructure, are some of the regional council’s top priorities for 2024.

Moonde said the council has budgeted N$8 million towards the provision of water and sanitation facilities in Windhoek’s rural areas during the 2023/2024 financial year.

The budget covers the drilling of seven boreholes at Hamis, Opdam, Harsamas, Stinkwater, Garib, Audabib and Versailles. All these new boreholes will have solar technology installed.

“The council has already appointed the contractor to install water supply facilities at Dordabis. The project includes supplying and erecting four additional water tanks for both human consumption and watering vegetable gardens at the cost of N$800 000,” Moonde noted.

Besides that, N$1.7 million has been budgeted for the construction of 103 dry toilets in the Stinkwater and Hatsamas areas.

About 54 toilets have already been constructed, whereas the pits for the remaining 49 have also been completed.

In addition, the council has commenced with the conversion of dry latrines to the flush system in the Windhoek rural areas.  So far, five households have been provided with flush toilets under this programme.

The project, which is estimated to cost the regional council approximately N$362 000 upon completion, includes the construction of five sceptic tanks and connection pipes.

In terms of education, the council reported making progress in procuring textbooks, and renovating and constructing new classrooms.

“The council is in the process of procuring textbooks to reduce the current ratio of leaners sharing textbooks at 1:4 at a cost of N$2.1 million. It is anticipated that the books will be handed over to the schools in the region by the end of March 2024,” Moonde said.

He further pointed out that during the financial year, the council renovated schools and built extra classrooms in the region.  

“The council is currently constructing four model classrooms at West Monte Secondary School at a cost of N$1.65 million, inclusive of desks, chairs and chalkboards,” he added.

Besides that, the council has embarked on renovating four blocks of classrooms at the AI Steenkamp Primary School at the cost of N$674 500. 

The council also procured a stove, tables and cooking utensils for the Moses /Garoeb Primary School, as well as an English Primary School soup kitchen for N$185 000. 

The council is currently finalising the procurement of gas cylinders and connection accessories for two school kitchens to be ready for usage soon. Khomas governor Laura McLeod-Katjirua confirmed that the region has recorded numerous successes in terms of income-generating projects, infrastructure development in education and health, as well as special assistance to needy and marginalised students.

She was was referring to the 110 Namcol students who were financially assisted by the regional council to upgrade their Grade 11 and 12 results with a combined amount of N$148 000.

Furthermore, the regional council assisted 76 students studying at different institutions of higher learning with the combined registration fee amounts of N$220 000.

“Plans have been made to provide the registration grants to the learners from our region who experienced shortages of funds to register at accredited higher institutions of learning in the country,” added the governor.

- lnashuuta@gmail.com