Ongwediva
As the water levels in Lake Oponona steadily decrease its water has become unfit for animal consumption and the situation is causing panic among farmers and cattle herders at Uuvudhiya.
Councillor of Uuvudhiya Constituency Amutenya gwaNdahafa says the water at Lake Oponona is also getting saltier everyday, and calls for urgent intervention.
Lake Oponona is a natural lake in the Uuvudhiya Constituency of Oshana Region, situated about 70 km from the Etosha Pan. It is the largest lake in the Cuvelai Basin.
In a good rainy season the lake usually holds enough water to last up to four rainy seasons.
Naturally, Lake Oponona, which is located in the saline area of the Oshana Region, relies on rain and water flow from the drainage lines of the oshanas of the Cuvelai-Etosha basin, which converge near Lake Oponona before flowing into the Etosha Pan.
Over the years the Oponona has been considered a livestock-rescuer from drought, not only in Uuvudhiya, but also for animals from Omusati, Ohangwena and Oshikoto regions, as well as nine other constituencies in the region.
Because of the persistent drought over the past five years, hundreds – if not thousands – of farmers from the four northern regions have now permanently moved their livestock to Uuvudhiya Constituency to villages in the vicinity of Lake Oponona, as Uuvudhiya is blessed not only with this massive natural lake, but an abundance of grass for livestock as well.
Gwa Ndahafa explained thatwhen water is pumped to Lake Oponona, or whenever there is a flood that comes with good rains in the area, the lake’s water becomes less saline.
Two years ago, NamWater with government intervention pumped water to Lake Oponona from Oshakati-Calueque Canal.
He said pumping water to the lake not only benefits animals at Oponona, but the water runs through Uuvudhiya River and a natural earth dam at Engobe, then Lake Oponona, before it eventually settles at Yinakuluyomadhiya in the Etosha Pan.
Some farmers in the northern regions have great numbers of livestock, with some owning up to 3 000 cattle. Most of these animals have been moved to cattle posts at or near Uuvudhiya.
Ever since the beginning of the dry spell that has affected the regions over the past few years, some cattle herders walk their livestock up to 30 km a day to the massive lake, as it is the only source of water for animals in the area. Other natural water reservoirs have dried up.
GwaNdahafa said most villages in Uuvudhiya Constituency are equipped with government-funded water points, but the livestock in his constituency are so many that it impossible for the animals to survive on tap water.
“As you know, well water pressure in the rural areas is very low. There’s no way that you can give enough water to livestock in this area if you only have water points,” he said.
The councillor maintained that the optimal time to pump water to Oponona is now, while there is water in the oshanas of Omusati Region.
GwaNdahafa said currently Omusati is receiving water from southern Angola through the Cuvelai channels (oshanas) and that could help to push canal water all the way to Oponona.