Charles Ndeumane
Ohangwena governor Sebastian Ndeitunga has warned businesspeople against making empty promises to help residents beat serious water scarcity challenges in the region.
He while the region is grappling with water scarcity, a situation that needs urgent intervention, there are businesspeople who keep making empty promises of drilling water boreholes to address water scarcity, but to no avail.
“Water is a very sensitive aspect of life, yet some businesspeople come to Ohangwena and promise the people that they will drill boreholes to help them with water. After some time, those people come up with excuses of why they cannot fulfil their promises; that is playing with people’s emotions.
“However, there are some who have delivered on their promises, and we thank them sincerely,” stated the governor.
He added that even though the government has invested a lot in drilling boreholes in the region, it is unfortunate that many boreholes have salty water, which is not fit for consumption. Ndeitunga further pleaded with more businesses in the mining and fishing industries to assist the region with drilling equipment, and individuals with resources to come on board and assist the populous Ohangwena region.
He added that another issue causing water scarcity is the theft of water pumps from boreholes by men from the region. He urged them to use their human consciousness, and think about the importance of those boreholes to the community.
“Our own sons are stealing the pumps from our boreholes, and we can no longer draw water from them. Imagine destroying a water point which supplies water to about 500 people and their animals. It is really bad, and I urge those who are stealing the pumps to stop it.”
Ndeitunga said the region needs deeper boreholes drilled up to 300 metres and reach Aquifer 2, which holds plenty of fresh water fit for human consumption.
According to the former police chief, one borehole like that would cost no less than N$3 million, but it can supply potable water to 10 surrounding villages.