Ruacana constituents complain of neglect
• Water supply cut off
A resident said the drought relief programme does not always provide adequate relief, with two 12.5 kg maize meal bags unable to feed a household of 14 people.
Some residents of Otjaandjamwenyo village in the Ruacana constituency of Omusati Region have accused their constituency councillor of neglecting their needs and practicing nepotism.
According to community member Tabitha Chikaka, the councillor, Andreas Shintama, only attends to the needs of certain villages while ignoring theirs.
Moreover, residents said they have not had access to water since 2006 and are struggling with insufficient food.
Water access
During the 2019 elections, water was connected, but it has since been shut off, they said.
"Since 2019, the water was just for free, and now all of a sudden we have to pay. Now we are forced to buy water from people who have taps for N$5 per 25 litres," Chikaka said.
She claimed when they asked NamWater why the water had been shut off, they were told that an amount of N$140 000 was owed.
Lack of food
Imesi Murenga, another resident, said that the drought relief programme does not provide adequate relief.
"We only get two 12.5kg maize meal bags per house; some of us are 14 in one house; how can two bags sustain us?" she asked.
Murenga said in addition, the maize meal they receive is sometimes infested with pests and is not good for human consumption – as a result, she said some children complain of stomach pains, even if the food has been cooked for a long time.
Allegations refuted
In a telephone interview with Namibian Sun, Shintama denied the allegations against him. He added that he was not aware of the complaints.
"Why should they tell you? Did they come to my office, and are they expecting us to find out from the media?" he asked.
The residents are accusing the councillor of deliberately giving drought relief to certain people, claims that Shintama strongly refuted, stating that his office does not choose drought relief beneficiaries – this is done by the traditional authority.
He added that the water was shut off because residents failed to pay, but his office has taken it up with NamWater.
"There is no free water in Namibia; the water will be opened, but they will keep paying," he said.
According to community member Tabitha Chikaka, the councillor, Andreas Shintama, only attends to the needs of certain villages while ignoring theirs.
Moreover, residents said they have not had access to water since 2006 and are struggling with insufficient food.
Water access
During the 2019 elections, water was connected, but it has since been shut off, they said.
"Since 2019, the water was just for free, and now all of a sudden we have to pay. Now we are forced to buy water from people who have taps for N$5 per 25 litres," Chikaka said.
She claimed when they asked NamWater why the water had been shut off, they were told that an amount of N$140 000 was owed.
Lack of food
Imesi Murenga, another resident, said that the drought relief programme does not provide adequate relief.
"We only get two 12.5kg maize meal bags per house; some of us are 14 in one house; how can two bags sustain us?" she asked.
Murenga said in addition, the maize meal they receive is sometimes infested with pests and is not good for human consumption – as a result, she said some children complain of stomach pains, even if the food has been cooked for a long time.
Allegations refuted
In a telephone interview with Namibian Sun, Shintama denied the allegations against him. He added that he was not aware of the complaints.
"Why should they tell you? Did they come to my office, and are they expecting us to find out from the media?" he asked.
The residents are accusing the councillor of deliberately giving drought relief to certain people, claims that Shintama strongly refuted, stating that his office does not choose drought relief beneficiaries – this is done by the traditional authority.
He added that the water was shut off because residents failed to pay, but his office has taken it up with NamWater.
"There is no free water in Namibia; the water will be opened, but they will keep paying," he said.
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