ONGWEDIVA – Oukwambi Traditional Authority chief Ndilimani Iipumbu has appealed to the government to construct more boreholes, due to the scarcity of water in the northern regions.
Iipumbu made this plea in a speech read on his behalf by the senior headman of Ediko district, Ashuulu Simeon, at the regional meeting of the water symposium held at Ongwediva yesterday.
He said this meeting came at the right time when the drought is devastating.
“We are, therefore, calling on the government to increase the excavation of earth dams as this measure will help us to preserve enough water, especially during the rainy season,” he stressed.
Meanwhile, Iipumbu appreciates the ministry of agriculture for upgrading the Olushandja Canal to ensure that people and animals have access to water.
“Community members in that area are very satisfied with this development, as even the animals are surviving,” he said.
Iipumbu likewise applauded the ministry for inviting traditional leaders to partake in this very important meeting.
“Traditional authorities are thus suggesting that strict measures be put in place to avoid water wastage at the Ruacana-Oshakati Canal,” he added.
Also speaking at the event, agriculture minister Calle Schlettwein said they will soon commence with the implementation of the Water Resources Management Act 11 of 2013, which includes conducting nationwide public awareness campaigns, continuing with compliance monitoring, and strengthening human resources’ capacity, as well as operationalising the Water Regulator and the Water Advisory Council, as well as Basin Management Committees.
“The ministry will also undertake various efforts at capacity-building by training staff members of the Department of Water Affairs with the requisite skills to not only implement the Water Act, but also to competently manage the water resources of Namibia. In this regard, I invite all stakeholders to complement the Water Act efforts of investing in the water sector to build capacity and rehabilitate water,” he stated.
“I, therefore, call upon all of us to support the government’s efforts to ensure that every Namibian has access to safe water of adequate quantity and acceptable quality, and dignified sanitation,” he urged.
Meanwhile, the minister called on people to work together to curb the very harmful trend of community boreholes’ vandalism.
He indicated that over 120 boreholes have reportedly been vandalised by community members.
“To replace stolen and destroyed infrastructure and equipment is directly limiting our ability to develop new and additional capacity. Law-enforcement needs to be stepped up, but equally important, communities must take responsibility for the water infrastructure which serves them. We would have been in a much better space without theft and related crimes,” he emphasised.
– fhamalwa@nepc.com.na
Request…Chief Ndilimani Iipumbu of the Oukwambi Traditional Authority.
Photo: Festus Hamalwa