Zebaldt Ngaruka 

EPUKIRO - Residents of Otjombundiro village in the Omaheke region are relieved after the government drilled a borehole to answer to the six years of water shortages. 

The past years were difficult for the residents, which forced some to lease land elsewhere for their livestock, a very costly process. 

Following the delivery and construction of new infrastructure at the new borehole, residents expressed their feelings towards the new development with regards to water in their village. 

One of the village’s water point committee members is Smith Kandukira, who told New Era that it was a really difficult period without water, where a lot of damage was done and made people lose interest in farming. 

“Water is our daily survival. We transported water with our cars from other neighbouring villages, which caused heavy damages to our vehicles. It was a costly exercise to maintain our livestock here,” he lamented. 

Kandukira said some elderly people in the settlement even died during the water scarcity struggle. 

“The government came to our rescue, as we knocked on councillor Pineal Packey Pakarae’s doors, and they responded positively to our plea. Today, we are relieved and looking forward to living a normal live with water in our village, thanks to our councillor,” he beamed. 

The new borehole will bring a sense of unity in the divided village, compared to the past years. 

“People will now start to meet at the water point, share ideas and look for amicable solutions as well as assist one another for the betterment of the village’s development,” he continued. 

Some Otjombundiro homesteads have private boreholes, and as such assisted those in need during the difficult period. 

Kaamberua Hambira, who was seen mostly on horseback taking his livestock to the neighbouring Ozombouvapa village, said the new borehole will bring relief to both humans and livestock. 

“To me, water is more important than hunger as it’s something one is using every hour,” he added. 

Hambira said it was a very costly situation to have water at home, considering the N$300 per day or eight litres of fuel charged every day to save the livestock. 

“When the rainy season was favourable, the Ozombouvapa dam was our source of water for our livestock. This was a big challenge, and we lost livestock even due to theft as they were moving between villages in search of water, and some suffered miscarriages,” he noted. 

Hambira also applauded the government for coming in at the right time. 

“Since we are already in drought and the cost of living is becoming worse, even the neighbouring Ozombouvapa is heavily affected by the water crisis,” he stated. 

The water scarcity in the village also affected operations at one of the oldest kindergartens in the Epukiro constituency, the Petrus Tjituka Early Childhood Development Centre, better known as ‘PT ECD’. 

Silba Kanuameva, the educator at the centre, said the centre, which was mainly built to take care of the San community in the settlement, failed to have its garden running due to water scarcity. 

“It is a big relief. We will now build up our garden, and provide food for our learners from this project. We will also continue with supplying water to our San community here,” she added. 

Kanuameva said the toilet facilities will also now be functional, and hygiene levels will thus improve. 

She likewise complimented the village leadership and the quick response from the Epukiro councillor for availing this borehole. 

On his part, Pakarae said water scarcity is a concern at many villages in the Epukiro constituency. 

He had tried hard to get this project done for the residents, and urged them to cooperate and protect infrastructure at the borehole. 

“You must work together, establish laws to govern yourself, and protect the infrastructure. It will be good if the community here works together and creates a veritable means and preach unity for the protection of your new water point,” Pakarae advised. 

Otjombundiro is the second village after Otjitundu to get a new borehole in the constituency. 

The village is situated about 24 kilometres north of Epukiro’s capital Omaueuozonjanda, and is neighbouring Otjijarua to the west and Ozombouvapa village to the east. 

- zngaruka@yahoo.com