ReconNamibia hands over 22 boreholes worth N$12.5m
Kavango East and Kavango West each received 11 boreholes
The company vowed to drill more boreholes to assist the Namibian government in addressing its social challenges.
As part of its support of local communities, Canadian-based oil and gas exploration company, ReconAfrica - through its Namibian subsidiary - handed over 22 functional boreholes to the state last week.
The boreholes, located in the two Kavango regions, are valued at about N$12.5 million.
At an event held at Ngone village in Kavango East, Recon handed over the infrastructure to deputy minister of agriculture, water and land reform, Anna Shiweda.
Kavango East and Kavango West each received 11 boreholes.
Some of the boreholes were drilled by government, while Recon did the installation.
Shiweda lauded the company’s efforts, saying that following the Covid-19 pandemic, state funds that would have been meant for drilling and installing boreholes were redirected to the fight against the virus.
“We are all aware that for the past few years, the Namibian economy has been experiencing headwinds whose negative effects on government revenue was exacerbated by the impact of Covid-19 on economic activities,” she said.
“This situation reduced the resources that are at the disposal of government for the implementation of economic development programmes, including the ones for water infrastructure, such as drilling, installation and rehabilitation of boreholes.
“This means the resources allocated by Recon came at the opportune time to augment the limited available resources.”
Curbing crocodile attacks
One of the challenges communities living along the Kavango River face is the loss of lives as a result of crocodile and other animal attacks. Residents often turn to the river for their various water needs as they do not have access to potable water in their homes.
Rundu Rural constituency councillor Paulus Mbangu said thanks to Recon’s donation, gone are the days when people from the villages had to walk long distances to the river and subsequently lose their lives.
This was also reiterated by Recon executive chairman and founder Craig Steinke, who said it is devastating to learn about the high number of deaths in the Kavango regions due to crocodile attacks.
The company vowed to drill more boreholes to assist the Namibian government in addressing its social challenges, he said.
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The boreholes, located in the two Kavango regions, are valued at about N$12.5 million.
At an event held at Ngone village in Kavango East, Recon handed over the infrastructure to deputy minister of agriculture, water and land reform, Anna Shiweda.
Kavango East and Kavango West each received 11 boreholes.
Some of the boreholes were drilled by government, while Recon did the installation.
Shiweda lauded the company’s efforts, saying that following the Covid-19 pandemic, state funds that would have been meant for drilling and installing boreholes were redirected to the fight against the virus.
“We are all aware that for the past few years, the Namibian economy has been experiencing headwinds whose negative effects on government revenue was exacerbated by the impact of Covid-19 on economic activities,” she said.
“This situation reduced the resources that are at the disposal of government for the implementation of economic development programmes, including the ones for water infrastructure, such as drilling, installation and rehabilitation of boreholes.
“This means the resources allocated by Recon came at the opportune time to augment the limited available resources.”
Curbing crocodile attacks
One of the challenges communities living along the Kavango River face is the loss of lives as a result of crocodile and other animal attacks. Residents often turn to the river for their various water needs as they do not have access to potable water in their homes.
Rundu Rural constituency councillor Paulus Mbangu said thanks to Recon’s donation, gone are the days when people from the villages had to walk long distances to the river and subsequently lose their lives.
This was also reiterated by Recon executive chairman and founder Craig Steinke, who said it is devastating to learn about the high number of deaths in the Kavango regions due to crocodile attacks.
The company vowed to drill more boreholes to assist the Namibian government in addressing its social challenges, he said.
[email protected]
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