Borehole millions lie idle

WINDHOEKELVIS MURARANGANDA
None of the more than 230 boreholes commissioned by the government under its drought-relief programme is usable yet, with much of the N$157 million allocated to this initiative lying idle.
This is despite many rural areas being hard hit by the drought which has left them without clean drinking water for themselves and their livestock.
This lack of progress was revealed by the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Forestry in response to an enquiry by Namibian Sun on the status of the boreholes.
Although 36 boreholes have been drilled, it could take another two months before water can be pumped from them - and that is if the ministry meets its deadlines. After a borehole is drilled, it needs to be sleeved and fitted with pipes and a pump.
The ministry has set a deadline of no later than September 30, 2013 to complete the siting, drilling and installation of the 238 boreholes, extension of 73 water pipelines and rehabilitation of 113 water installations in 12 regions.
It has so far met its target of drilling 10 boreholes in the Omaheke Region and eight in the Otjozondjupa Region, but has only drilled four of the planned 30 in the Kavango Region.
In the Kunene Region, only 14 boreholes of the planned 44 have been drilled at a cost of N$1,9 million, and seven out of 28 identified water installations have been rehabilitated.
Close to N$1,3 million has been spent so far on the drilling of six boreholes in the Kavango Region, and water analysis to determine whether the water is fit for human consumption.
In that same region, the siting of the remaining 26 targeted boreholes is expected to be completed by August 9, and the drilling by mid-September.
The ministry is also planning on extending four pipelines at Dithimba, Dove and Kambowo villages in Kavango at a cost of N$800 000 by the end of next month.
The same deadline and targets for pipeline extensions have been set for Okahumba, Ondokahaka 1, Otjitaazu and Ouruundu villages in Otjozondjupa while more than N$10 million still needs to be used for the same project in the Ohangwena, Oshikoto, Omusati, Oshana and Erongo Regions.
Under the current plan the Oshana Region is only getting an extension of eight pipelines for N$1, 6 million connecting Omapale and Onoolongo, Okololo and Oniizimba, Etosha and Oshekedhiya as well as Omukandu and Oshitundu.
The ministry further denied the existence of 'ghost' boreholes for which payments were allegedly made but were never drilled.
It was earlier reported that President Hifikepunye Pohamba lambasted the Omaheke and Caprivi regional governors for this failure, since people in the two regions are hard hit by the drought.
“The allegation cannot be true,” said Leopold Niipare, the director of the department of water supply and sanitation co-ordination in the ministry.
“This can be attributed to the fact that MAWF has over time developed a sound project management system supported by a proper procurement and verification system,” he added.
According to him, drilling contractors are supervised by consultants who are in turn monitored by professional staff of the ministry.
“After completion of drilling work, inspections are carried out by inspectors to ensure jobs are completed in accordance with the technical specifications and costs provided on the tender, as well as on the purchase order issued to the consultant.
“Only then are invoices certified correct after which payments are recommended [to the Office of the Prime Minister] and processed,” Niipare explained.
He added that the ministry has assigned rural water extension officers to constituencies where drilling is taking place. These officials are monitoring the projects.