Theft of borehole pumps on the increase in Okongo

Fourteen water pumps have been stolen in the Okongo constituency over the course of 2023 up to March of this year from four villages, according to constituency councillor Efraim Shipindo.

Shipindo said the ongoing theft of water pumps in the constituency is unacceptable and hinders government efforts in terms of service delivery.

Last week, three water pump cylinders were stolen from boreholes in Okamanya, Onheleiwa, Okanyanona and Ekango Lomuve villages, bringing the total to four since the start of the year.

Shipindo said several suspects linked to the privately-owned Onheleiwa borehole have been arrested.

“At Okamanya, they tried and failed last year. This year, they managed to steal it. This trend is increasing and moving really fast. We are worried because we are trying to improve the living conditions of our people, but we are being taken 10 steps back. We suspect suspects are within the community. It is not helping anyone to destroy what was meant to improve their lives,” he said.

Hurdles to water access

Shipindo urged communities targeted by the thieves to work together with the police so that those responsible are “brought to book.”

He said the constituency bought eight new cylinders to replace those stolen last year.

More are needed, but funds are limited and the constituency has requested assistance.

For now, the affected communities are using boreholes from the neighbouring villages.

“Government is working hard, but people are still being left to suffer. Thousands of villagers depend on boreholes for water and they will be left to travel long distances in search of water," he said.

"This syndicate targeting borehole water pumps needs to be addressed fast,” Shipindo urged, adding that they have informed all the relevant stakeholders, including the agriculture and land reform ministry and the police.

Water supply objectives

Agriculture ministry spokesperson Jona Musheko said the ministry is disappointed that despite government's efforts to provide clean water, their efforts are hampered by the thefts, especially in the north and north-central regions.

Musheko said this setback means it will take the ministry longer to attain its objective of providing water supply in rural areas.

“In all those areas where the water pump, cylinders and solar panels are stolen, the communities are left in a crisis as water supply is interrupted,” he said.

Musheko said the boreholes were implemented to improve lives and advised communities to take ownership of the boreholes and not view them as merely government property.

He urged communities to safeguard the facilities and report the culprits.

“The government has limited resources to keep replacing stolen equipment continuously. And we must also look at other areas with the same needs. We suspect the culprits are working with private people and probably selling to private farmers. We will get them,” Musheko stressed.