SHADIPWERA – Residents of Shadipwera village in Divundu recently became the latest community to benefit from a water project targetting 13 000 people.
Coca-Cola Africa Foundation (TCCAF), in partnership with USAID’s Southern Africa Regional Environmental Program (SAREP), initiated the project in which 13 000 people will get clean, safe water in 28 communities across Namibia.
Other partners in this innovative scheme to supply water are the Water and Development Alliance (WADA), the Replenish Africa Initiative (RAIN) and the Directorate of Water Supply and Sanitation Coordination (DWSSC).
Shadipwera that recently got a borehole is located 27 km west of Divundu in Mukwe Constituency.
Before the borehole was handed over to Shadipwera, its residents used to walk long distances to fetch water from the river or at nearby villages. The borehole is equipped with three 10 000-litre water tanks, a trough for cattle and other domestic animals, two taps for drinking water and a solar panel to power the newly installed water system.
Through this project WADA is installing new boreholes, cleaning and rehabilitating existing damaged boreholes, and extending pipelines in drought-stricken Kavango West and East regions.
“We are very excited to launch the Coca Cola Africa Foundation’s first-ever community water project in Namibia. Shadipwera is one of 28 communities that will benefit from improved water supply of this project,” said Tara Varghese, a representative from Coca Cola.
“This project falls under the Coca Cola Africa Foundation’s flagship water initiative – Replenish Africa Initiative. It started in 2009 and by 2020 will reach 6 million people in Africa who will get clean drinking water,” stated Varghese.
In the Kavango East and Kavango West regions, WADA is supporting activities to improve water service and supply along with DWSSC.
Namibia is well known for having one of the region’s strongest rural water supply systems.
DWSSC has a strong integrated water supply plan for the Kavango East and West regions and it places a strong emphasis on community acceptance and sustainability.
New boreholes are earmarked for seven communities, three of which are in Kavango West and four are in Kavango East.
Among the areas that will benefit from the planned boreholes are: Mwenge, Kahanga, Mbambi West, Mutengo, Kasoro and Chimchigce.
Out-of-service boreholes will be rehabilitated at 19 communities in both Kavango regions at Kayira-yira, Sivaradi, Ncushe, Madcuva, Mile 30, Koro, Shamashwa, Ncumushi, Muparara, Mpezo, Sau, Mayongora, Kambowo, Ndjere, Ehangero, Ndjiikti, Baramasoni, Dove, and Sikumba while distribution pipelines will be extended in Ntara and Sarukwe.
Speaking at the event the Regional Director of the Directorate of Water Supply and Sanitation Coordination, Moses Mpareke urged the community to look after the borehole as their own.
“This is for all community members, it belongs to all of you so no one should chase others away, let us keep it as it is, don’t vandalize it. The government and its development partners have done their part, now is your turn by taking good care of it,” Mpareke exhorted the community.
Mpareke also assured other areas in need of water that they will be attended to soon as the need of clean water is high in most remote areas of the two Kavango regions.
It was also stated that the Namibia Red Cross Society (NRCS) is simultaneously implementing a sanitation and hygiene programme in the two regions, which will complement TCCAF’s water supply activities and improve overall water, sanitation and hygiene.