Kavango West installs 27 boreholes in croc-prone areas
Kavango West governor Sirkka Ausiku has revealed that the region has drilled and installed 27 new boreholes in crocodile-prone areas in all constituencies along the Kavango River.
She made these remarks during her State of the Region address on Friday. According to the governor, the provision of safe drinking water remains a top priority of the region. This in an effort to dissuade communities from making use of the river for bathing and other purposes, and keeping them safe from crocodile attacks.
“In addition, two traditional wells were modernised at Sharukwe in the Ncuncuni constituency and Tjohwa in the Mpungu constituency, while three earth dams are under construction at Murere and Ndombe za Matava, both in the Tondoro constituency, and Gava in Mpungu,” she said.
Despite these efforts, Ausiku believes that more still needs to be done in the area of water provision.
“According to the Namibia Statistics Agency, only 76.3% of the population in the region has access to safe drinking water and some still travel at least 31 kilometres to access the water points. I am also encouraging our communities to safeguard their water infrastructure from vandalism and theft,” she said.
Ausiku extended a word of appreciation toward NamWater for launching a new bulk water treatment plant in Rundu that will respond to the region’s request for the construction of water pipelines along national roads.
Decentralise functions
“As previously reported, the Kavango West Regional Council continues to implement the rural sanitation programme. Close to 100 rural toilets were constructed during the year under review and another N$2.3 million was allocated to the programme this year. However, more budget allocation is required under this programme to help the region to address sanitation problems,” Ausiku said.
“The region continues to call on some offices, ministries and agencies (OMAs) to decentralise their functions to regional councils to improve service delivery to our community. The Office of the Governor will continue to invite various OMAs to have engagement meetings to share their programmes and projects implemented in the region,” she added.
The governor reiterated that her office continues to experience difficulties in obtaining information from some OMAs on how their allocated development and operational budgets are implemented in the region.
“At the same time, the region would like to appreciate the N$322.3 million allocation for the 2024/25 financial year's development budget, with 52 projects to be implemented by various OMAs in the region. The region appeals to all OMAs to implement the allocated budget fully,” she said.
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She made these remarks during her State of the Region address on Friday. According to the governor, the provision of safe drinking water remains a top priority of the region. This in an effort to dissuade communities from making use of the river for bathing and other purposes, and keeping them safe from crocodile attacks.
“In addition, two traditional wells were modernised at Sharukwe in the Ncuncuni constituency and Tjohwa in the Mpungu constituency, while three earth dams are under construction at Murere and Ndombe za Matava, both in the Tondoro constituency, and Gava in Mpungu,” she said.
Despite these efforts, Ausiku believes that more still needs to be done in the area of water provision.
“According to the Namibia Statistics Agency, only 76.3% of the population in the region has access to safe drinking water and some still travel at least 31 kilometres to access the water points. I am also encouraging our communities to safeguard their water infrastructure from vandalism and theft,” she said.
Ausiku extended a word of appreciation toward NamWater for launching a new bulk water treatment plant in Rundu that will respond to the region’s request for the construction of water pipelines along national roads.
Decentralise functions
“As previously reported, the Kavango West Regional Council continues to implement the rural sanitation programme. Close to 100 rural toilets were constructed during the year under review and another N$2.3 million was allocated to the programme this year. However, more budget allocation is required under this programme to help the region to address sanitation problems,” Ausiku said.
“The region continues to call on some offices, ministries and agencies (OMAs) to decentralise their functions to regional councils to improve service delivery to our community. The Office of the Governor will continue to invite various OMAs to have engagement meetings to share their programmes and projects implemented in the region,” she added.
The governor reiterated that her office continues to experience difficulties in obtaining information from some OMAs on how their allocated development and operational budgets are implemented in the region.
“At the same time, the region would like to appreciate the N$322.3 million allocation for the 2024/25 financial year's development budget, with 52 projects to be implemented by various OMAs in the region. The region appeals to all OMAs to implement the allocated budget fully,” she said.
[email protected]
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