2016-11-24Staff Report 2 Omyalundu Residents of Ombyalundu in Ruacana Constituency in Omusati Region have urged the government through the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Forestry to supply them with a water pipe so that they can have access to potable water. Ombyalundu residents submitted their request through the Directorate of Rural Water Supply at the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Forestry. According to Ruacana Constituency Councillor Andreas Shitama, the whole constituency has no single rural water supply pipe and his people are compelled to drink filthy green algae water that they share with livestock. The villagers concurred with their political leader, claiming the water is unfit for human consumption. Shitama said the distance his people travel to the fountain is vast and exacting especially for the elderly and women carrying infants on their backs. He said monkeys in the area also drink the semi-green algae water. “The people walk over one mountain before they can get to the steeper mountain where they share the semi-green algae water with livestock and monkeys,” he said. “Some people that are fortunate enough can use their vehicle to carry enough containers and those who have donkeys use them to transport their containers,” said the councillor. He said he wants at least to have a pipeline so that people will have access to clean water to avoid water-borne disease. Shitama said one of his main plans, as a regional councillor, is to make sure that the struggle of his people to get safe drinking water in the mountains will not continue. Yatovara Nauvare, a villager, said the fountain has become their only source of water because they do not have a single rural water supply tap in the area. She said that the fountain is a threat to their animals as they can break their legs on the way to the fountain. She further related that because she is old she uses a donkey to transport her to the fountain but she once fell from a donkey and was transported to hospital by the police because there was no ambulance. “Our police in Ruacana deserve respect – they respond very fast and we are happy about it. I wish the entire government entities that deal with the community could do the same,” she said. 2016-11-24Staff Report 2
