Residents of Okalongo spent hours filling containers with water while some overnight as they can only get water at night, as the flow has deteriorated to just drops. 

The area has been hit hard by the current water crisis.

Remote villages of Onamanape, Ondeikela, Ohakuyela and Omambubu are the most affected.

According to Okalongo constituency councillor Laurentius Iipinge, most of the houses stay without water throughout the day because only during the night, do they get water, but on a weak flow.

The water pressure in the rural water-supply network serving the Anamulenge and Okalongo constituencies in the Omusati region is frustratingly low.

“This issue started last year. It is now six months that residents in these villages struggle to get water,” he said.

He further said he is informed that the supply line from Outapi to Anamulenge and Okalongo has a water flow problem. 

“But I was told long ago that NamPower will reconnect the supply line to the Ogongo pipe, which will connect it to Okalongo,” he said.

He added that they reported the issues to NamWater officials who promised to address the issue.

“This is not fair. Residents are complaining every day and I understand their pain. They cannot live without water. Water is life, I am not happy with this,” he pointed out.

A resident from Ondeikela, Maria Shinedima told New Era that they spent too much time waiting for the water containers to fill up since the water flow is so low that only drops come out of the pipes.

“We sometimes walk long distances to get water from areas where there is a better flow. Those who cannot travel such long distances have resorted to wells for drinking and household water,” Shinedima said. 

Joshua Shipepe from Okalongo said their constituency is facing a water crisis. “I know that we don’t have the power to solve this issue, but if the elections come, they run to us, convincing us to go vote, I don’t understand,” stressed Shipepe. “Our leaders have been promising us that we will never experience water issues. Now, what is this? We just voted to put problems on top of other problems,” he added.

Several attempts to get a comment from NamWater’s spokesperson John Shigwedha proved futile.  

vkaapanda@nepc.com.na