Free water for Omaalala villagers

OMAALALA PLACIDO HILUKILWA Paying for drinking water will soon be something of the past for the residents of Omaalala and surrounding villages in the Ongwediva and Ondangwa constituencies of Oshana, thanks to an innovative idea of the Omaalala Youth Development Club (OYDC) to sponsor the delivery of essential services to the local community. The OYDC has applied for a water point at Omaalala and the tap has already been put up in their office premises, where community members will soon start getting their water for domestic consumption free of charge. OYDC chairman Job Shipululo Amupanda said his club identified a need for free water for the impoverished members of the community. He said the OYDC came up with the idea and submitted an application almost a year ago, but NamWater could not process it as the necessary connection fee was not paid. A local businessman, Kefas Stefanus of SuperSport Trading CC, came to their aid and paid the money recently. When our young people come up with a good idea they must be supported, Stefanus said. The water point is expected to be opened to the public this week. Amupanda said the water will be free of charge in the sense that the OYDC will mediate with sponsors to settle the monthly account. Our estimation shows that, no matter how much water villagers consume, the cost will never be more than N$1 000 per month, Amupanda said. NovaNam has already come forward with a sponsorship covering the rest of this year. We are still looking for sponsors starting January next year, he said. Amupanda said the water point will also serve as a place where people can meet. Omaalala village headman and opposition politician Philemon Moongo welcomed the idea. That is a very good idea, but I am sceptical about its sustainability. Sponsors might dry up and the community would be back to the square one. I rather suggest that the government reactivate the old water points where the community used to get water free of charge. The government must be ready to make sacrifices for its own people, he said.