ONGWEDIVA – Oshana governor Elia Irimari is having sleepless nights over water security in Namibia’s northern regions, warning the country’s heavy reliance on Angola is unsustainable. 

Speaking at a stakeholders’ engagement meeting yesterday, he stressed the need for larger dams, despite NamWater’s ongoing efforts to improve infrastructure. 

“The water we have comes from Angola, but what if something happens? We need to take proactive steps to secure our own sustainable water sources,” Irimari said. 

The northern regions, including Oshana, Ohangwena, Omusati and Oshikoto, depend on the Calueque Dam in Angola for their water supply. 

Whi l e NamWater has made progress in upgrading infrastructure, he emphasised that more must be done to safeguard against potential shortages. 

The government, private sector and development partners must thus invest in local water storage facilities to reduce dependency on external sources. 

“We appreciate NamWater’s efforts, but infrastructure alone is not enough. We must ensure long-term water security by building bigger dams,” he added. 

 Stakeholders at the meeting echoed his concerns, warning that water shortages could negatively impact livelihoods, agriculture and economic growth in the region. 

In a related development, the Oshakati Town Council last year allocated land to NamWater for the construction of a water treatment plant. This project aims to support the existing water supply infrastructure in Oshakati, and improve water availability in the region. 

Oshakati mayor Leonard Hango stated that increasing water production capacity and enhancing infrastructure are expected to significantly address water scarcity, and improve living conditions in Oshana and surrounding areas. 

Media reports show that the Oshana Regional Council received N$15 million from the water affairs ministry to construct earth dams in various constituencies to harvest floodwater. 

NamWater spokesperson Lot Ndamanomhata acknowledged the governor’s concerns. 

“Indeed, reliance on cross-border water sources highlights the importance of long-term planning and infrastructure development to ensure a sustainable water supply. NamWater is actively working on initiatives to strengthen water security, including upgrading infrastructure to enhance capacity and reliability,” he said. 

-vkaapanda@nepc.com.na