…sanitation for 482 households, 9 villages
WINDHOEK – Development partners through the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Forestry managed to provide 482 households in nine villages with improved sanitation facilities in the Ohangwena Region.
Addressing the national workshop on the review of the 8th Joint Annual Review Report for the water and sanitation sector, the Minister of Agriculture, Water and Forestry, John Mutorwa said development partners have been very generous to the water and sanitation sector in Namibia. He also noted that development budget funding has contributed significantly to the total development efforts of the government.
Increased funding towards the water and sanitation sector has resulted in a total allocation of about N$504 million, including a sum of approximately N$19.6 million in technical assistance. The water and sanitation sector has attracted donor support from the European Union, the government of Spain through the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID), the German Society for International Cooperation (GIZ), the government of Finland, the US government through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the Millennium Challenge Account, as well as the various United Nations agencies particularly Unesco and Unicef.
These donors, Mutorwa said contributed significantly to the implementation of water and sanitation plans and initiatives, which have increased water supply and sanitation coverage and contributed to capacity-building in the sector.
“The support to the sector has significantly resulted in the contribution to the wellbeing of our people, especially in the rural areas where a large number of our population still live. Reduction of poverty, enhancing opportunities for wealth-creation through new employment opportunities and the promotion of health amongst other national development targets require a collective effort in propelling the sector towards attaining Vision 2030 and the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs),” Mutorwa explained.
The ministry through the Directorate of Water Supply and Sanitation developed a mandate on the sanitation challenge as stipulated in the water supply and sanitation policy of 2008, which reaffirms the need to provide potable, safe water and basic sanitation services throughout Namibia. Potable, safe water and basic sanitation services were identified at independence as being among the major and basic essential needs lacking in the nation, specifically in rural areas. During the term under review the Katima Mulilo-Ngoma and Kongola water supply scheme phase 1, Eiseb and the Soutputs water supply projects were completed. Also, in the Zambezi Region about five combined schools were targeted where ablution blocks were constructed and awareness campaigns on best hygiene practices were conducted.
Mutorwa assured the development partners that the government through the Ministry of Finance has in place a National Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF), which provides for a transparent financial system that enhances accountability.
By Albertina Nakale